US, Philippines pledge stronger ties as Marcos visits Pentagon

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos inspects an honour guard during a welcome ceremony outside of the Pentagon in Washington, DC on May 3, 2023. - AFP

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg): The US and the Philippines promised to deepen their defence alliance through expanded military drills and joint patrols during President Ferdinand Marcos’s visit at the Pentagon where he was given rare honours, amid escalating China tensions.

In new bilateral defense guidelines, the nations reaffirmed their commitment to defend each other in case of an armed attack in the South China Sea on either country’s forces, including on the coast guards.