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Joint Statement on the Philippines-United States Fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

Robert Thomas

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (referred to collectively as “the Secretaries”) convened the fourth Philippines-United States 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Manila on July 30, 2024 — the first to be held in Manila.

The Secretaries discussed opportunities to further enhance both countries’ commitment to the Philippines-United States Alliance, and concrete ways to achieve enhanced economic ties and broad‑based prosperity.  They likewise exchanged views on persistent challenges to regional peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.

The Secretaries also took stock of the historic achievements in bilateral relations since the third 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in April 2023.  They outlined specific measures to further operationalize President Marcos’s and President Biden’s “shared vision of partnership, peace, and prosperity.”

A. Fortifying a Maturing and Modern Alliance

Both sides celebrated the unprecedented progress in the Philippines-United States Alliance over the past two years.  The Secretaries reiterated the importance of the security alliance and shared commitments under the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in an increasingly complex environment.  The Secretaries reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks against either country’s armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels — including those of their coast guards — anywhere in the South China Sea.  The Secretaries also reaffirmed the critical importance of the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) as the foundation for building enhanced Alliance coordination and interoperability.

Both sides recognized that modernizing the Philippines’ defense and civilian law enforcement capabilities is crucial to ensuring individual and collective security.  Understanding the importance of interoperability and cooperation in both conventional and non-conventional domains, the Secretaries also discussed the nature of threats in various domains — including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace — and effective responses.  The Secretaries welcomed further defense and security coordination with Japan and Australia to address shared regional challenges.

Delivering and building on plans from the 3rd 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in April 2023 and 11th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in April 2024, the Secretaries committed to:

  • Allocate USD $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) from the FY 2024 Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, working with the U.S. Congress.  This unprecedented investment demonstrates the United States’ commitment to modernizing the Philippines-United States Alliance and deep support for enhancing the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard to fulfill their territorial defense mission and contribute to regional security;
  • Establish the Roles, Missions, Capabilities (RMC) Working Group to ensure more frequent and regular policy and operational coordination.  The establishment of the RMC will support strengthening bilateral planning and interoperability by providing policy guidance for joint operations, activities, and investments consistent with the Philippines-United States Bilateral Defense Guidelines signed during the working visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to Washington, D.C. in May 2023;
  • Implement the Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap (P-SSAR), finalized on July 29, 2024, in Manila, which outlines the bilaterally determined priority capability requirements of the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to be supported by Philippine national funds and U.S. capacity-building efforts, programs, and activities.  The P‑SSAR, which aligns the joint priorities of the Philippines and the United States, will guide shared defense modernization planning and investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next five to ten years;
  • Increase investments in EDCA agreed locations with a view to further supporting combined training, exercises, and interoperability between the Philippine and U.S. Armed Forces, as well as the Philippines’ civilian-led disaster preparedness and response capacities.  The U.S. President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025 includes an additional USD $128 million for EDCA infrastructure projects across seven locations.  The Philippines has invested an estimated budget of PhP 5.2 billion (USD $88.6 million) at EDCA locations.  USAID also plans to implement an initiative to pre-position humanitarian relief commodities at an EDCA site for Philippine civilian disaster response authorities to help provide urgent assistance if needed in times of crisis.  Both sides will continue exploring ways to incorporate likeminded partners and allies into activities at EDCA sites;
  • Conclude the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) by the end of 2024.  Together with the Philippines-United States Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), a Philippines-United States GSOMIA would lay the foundation for enhanced, expanded, and timely sharing of information and defense technology;
  • Advance cybersecurity cooperation by investing in the cybersecurity capabilities of the Philippines, including the United States providing an integrated cyber range and training platform and on-demand training to develop and sustain a capable and skilled cyber workforce, which would support the AFP’s efforts to stand up a new Cyber Command.  The United States and the Philippines are also integrating cyber into military exercises, including Exercise BALIKATAN;
  • Bolster maritime cooperative activities to promote security cooperation and expand operational coordination with other likeminded partners, including Australia and Japan.  These joint efforts demonstrate resolve, strengthen bilateral security ties, and expand multilateral cooperation and training.  The Secretaries agreed that cooperation and interoperability, including with both countries’ respective Coast Guards, are essential tenets in maintaining stability and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.  The Secretaries welcomed the signing of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement and looked forward to greater trilateral and multilateral cooperation.  They commended the conduct of the April 2024 Philippines-United States-Japan-Australia maritime cooperative activity in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone to strengthen interoperability and uphold international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and,
  • Convene on an annual basis the Philippines-United States 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, with the fifth meeting to be hosted by the United States in 2025.

B. Fostering Economic Resilience for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future

Both sides reiterated the importance of ensuring that the Alliance promotes security in its broadest sense — building more resilient and sustainable communities and economies, increasing trade with more diverse and reliable partners, and deterring, countering, and mitigating harm from potential economic coercion.  The Secretaries welcomed progress in bolstering economic engagement over the past year, particularly through the conduct of the first-ever U.S. Presidential Trade and Investment Mission, the Philippines’ co-hosting of the 2024 Indo-Pacific Business Forum, and the launch of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)-Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Investment Accelerator.  They also recognized the range of bilateral trade and investment priorities discussed at the July 2024 United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement meeting and reinforced the importance of making progress towards strengthening the bilateral trade relationship.

The Secretaries also noted the convening of the following dialogues:

  • Philippines-United States Technical Aviation Dialogue (16 May 2023) — discussions allowed expansion of air connectivity in the last  year and subsequent engagements to explore the possibility of modernizing both countries’ existing air transportation agreement;
  • Philippines-United States Joint Committee on Science and Technology (30 April 2024) —  discussions exchanged views on some of the most important science and technology endeavors of the two countries, and prioritized future collaboration;
  • Philippines-United States-Japan Luzon Economic Corridor Steering Committee (21 May 2024) —  discussions identified priority sectors for engagement and reviewed potential projects with the aim to drive infrastructure investment and development along the Corridor;
  • Philippines-United States Space Dialogue (2 May 2024) — discussions advanced cooperation on using space-based technologies for disaster management, mapping of resources, pollution monitoring, and maritime domain awareness; and,
  • Philippine-United States Cyber-Digital Policy Dialogue (15-16 July 2024) — discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet, including cyberspace stability and deeper bilateral cooperation on cybersecurity.

To sustain the momentum of cooperation in key sectors, notably renewable energy, agriculture and food security, critical minerals processing and semiconductors, and infrastructure investments, the Secretaries committed to the following:

  • Follow through on the vital, ongoing discussions and cooperation in connection with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the PGI, among others.  The Secretaries emphasized the need to advance both countries’ shared agenda for inclusive and sustainable economic growth through infrastructure investments, a secure and stable digital ecosystem, enhanced agricultural productivity, resilient supply chains, safeguarded critical and emerging technologies, robust renewable energy and green technologies, and workforce development and advancing workers’ rights;
  • Drive progress on identifying initial priority projects later this year for investment along the Luzon Economic Corridor through the trilateral Steering Committee with a focus on critical transportation infrastructure in ports and rail, clean energy deployments to bolster the semiconductor industry, and commercial development of Subic Bay, and other projects as they arise;
  • Work towards the completion of a Threshold Program Agreement between the Philippines and MCC as soon as possible following the finalization of initial analyses that would inform program development;
  • Continue collaborating to create more resilient, secure, and sustainable global value chains in critical sectors of mutual interest to the Philippines and the United States — to include in the Philippine and U.S. semiconductor industries — and to safeguard critical infrastructure and emerging technologies.  Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to further cooperate on critical minerals processing and to strengthen private sector partnerships — which may include shipbuilding and ship repair — recognizing the imperative of increasing economic growth in both countries;
  • Convene the 2nd U.S.-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue in Manila later this year to advance energy cooperation.  The Dialogue provides a platform to accelerate efforts to diversify critical minerals supply chains, promote renewable energy deployment, foster reliable and resilient power grids, and elevate energy security;
  • Operationalize opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation on civil nuclear energy following the Philippines-United States bilateral 123 Agreement entering into force on 2 July 2024, through subsequent activities, including by working together to help the Philippines develop the workforce, regulatory environment, and strong commercial partnerships that will enable development of a robust, safe civil nuclear sector.  Both governments committed to hold a Nuclear Supply Chain Forum in Manila in November 2024, which will bring together leading U.S. companies with government and private sector stakeholders to discuss partnership opportunities;
  • Advance private sector-led investment opportunities across the Philippines in partnership with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) through the opening of a DFC office in Manila in 2024; and,
  • Welcome the Philippines’ forthcoming participation in the Minerals Security Partnership Forum.

C. Ensuring Respect for the Rules-Based Order in the Indo-Pacific

Acknowledging that the futures of both countries are intertwined with each other, the region, and the rest of the world, the Secretaries reaffirmed their support for unimpeded lawful commerce and full respect for international law, including freedom of navigation and overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea.  They exchanged views on key regional and global developments that challenge global peace and the international rules-based order.  The Secretaries:

  • Expressed serious concerns about dangerous behavior in the South China Sea over the past year that resulted in injury and damage to property, as well as militarization of reclaimed features and unlawful maritime claims;
  • Reaffirmed the importance of Philippine vessels’ freedom of navigation in the South China Sea;
  • Called on the PRC to comport with the international law of the sea as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the “Convention”),  to respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and to comply with the final and legally binding July 12, 2016, ruling in the Philippines v. China arbitration;
  • Welcomed diplomatic efforts to support routine and regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions; and,
  • Reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.

The Secretaries committed to:

  • Deepen coordination on issues related to the South China Sea between and among their foreign and defense ministries; and,
  • Explore additional opportunities to strengthen global support for upholding the international law of the sea.

D. Investing in People-to-People Ties

The Secretaries reiterated the special bonds between the peoples of the Philippines and the United States, which are rooted in a long and deeply interwoven history, shared democratic beliefs, and common values.  The strong people-to-people ties are an indispensable pillar of bilateral ties.

Reaffirming the shared vision of our two Presidents that the special ties between both nations and their people will only grow stronger in time, the Secretaries committed to the following:

  • Convene the inaugural Philippine-U.S. Democracy Dialogue in late 2024, which both countries recognize as a new major platform for ensuring that efforts to enhance our bilateral relationship as well as mutual economic gains are broad based, inclusive, and firmly anchored on shared democratic values and principles;
  • Continue to support the partnerships that the Philippine Fulbright Commission has established with the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Competition Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Space Agency, and Department of Energy, and to further explore avenues for harnessing these partnerships to achieve capacity building in areas critical to Philippine development and economic growth; and,
  • Support ongoing USAID higher education partnerships strengthen the Philippine education system, working with Philippine universities to expand their innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development capabilities.  This flagship education partnership is expected to advance Philippine human capital priorities by supporting universities’ curriculum development, faculty training, higher education policy and management, research, and community engagement. 

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