President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday hosted two high-profile diplomatic visitors at Malacañan Palace, underscoring the Philippines’ deepening strategic partnerships with Western allies amid escalating tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.
Mr. Marcos welcomed Her Excellency Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, during a courtesy call that highlighted the growing cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union (EU).
The meeting emphasized shared commitments to regional stability, maritime security, and the rules-based international order.
Kallas’ visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical friction in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have continued to assert claims over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The EU has previously expressed concern over actions that threaten freedom of navigation and the sovereignty of Southeast Asian nations, aligning with the Philippines’ position on upholding international maritime law, particularly the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims.
Later the same day, the President also received US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a separate courtesy visit.
The meeting reaffirmed strong bilateral ties between the Philippines and the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing, defense cooperation, and regional security coordination.
The back-to-back meetings with Kallas and Gabbard signal a unified front among democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific region, as Manila continues to push back against Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in contested waters.
The visits coincide with a weekend maritime incident where the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) challenged a China Coast Guard vessel operating roughly 76 nautical miles off Zambales, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
As of writing, neither Malacañang nor the visiting officials disclosed specific details of their discussions.
