Trump welcomes Philippine leader Marcos at White House and says he thinks there will be a trade deal

Washington – President Donald Trump welcomed Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Junior on Tuesday at the White House, as the two countries seek to obtain closer security and economic relations in the face of changing political geography in the India and Pacific region.

Marcus, who met Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Minister Beit Higseth on Monday, is the first leader in Southeast Asia to hold talks with Trump in his second term.

When Trump received Marcus, shaking his hand outside the entrance to the western wing of the White House, one of the correspondents asked the American president about whether they were going on a trade deal on Wednesday.

“I think we’ll do,” Trump said before he and Marcus went inside.

The three -day visit of Marcus shows the importance of the coalition between the treaty partners at a time when China is increasingly leading in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have interested in Scarroro strongly on it.

Washington Beijing sees economy 2 in the world, as its largest competitor, and successive presidential administrations have sought to transform the American military and economic focus into Asia and the Pacific in an attempt to confront China. Trump, just like others by him, has paid attention to the efforts to mediate peace in a set of conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza.

The definitions are expected to be on the agenda. Trump threatened to impose a 20 % tariff on Filipino goods on August 1 unless the two sides were able to conclude a deal.

“I intend to transfer to President Trump and cabinet officials that the Philippines are ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that would guarantee strong and beneficial cooperation for the two parties and the future in the future, as the United States and the Philippines could only benefit from,” Marcus said on Sunday when he was leaving to Washington.

Financial President Ralph Rikto told local reporters that Manila is open to provide a zero tariff for some American goods to connect a deal with Trump.

White House press secretary Caroline Levit has hinted that a trade agreement with the Philippines was in business. “This may be a topic of discussion,” she told reporters on Monday when asked about the tariff negotiations.

The White House said that Trump will discuss with Marcus the joint commitment with the support of India, the free, open, prosperous and safe ocean.

Before a meeting with Marcus in the Pentagon, Higseth repeated America’s commitment to “achieving peace through power” in the region.

“Our coalition was not stronger or more stronger than it is today, and we remain committed to the mutual defense treaty,” Higseth said on Monday. “This agreement extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public ships, including the Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.”

Marcus, whose country is one of the oldest allies of the treaty in the Pacific region, told Higseth that the emphasis on coming to the mutual defense of each other “is still the cornerstone of that relationship, especially when it comes to defense and security cooperation.”

He said that cooperation has been deepened since the visit of Higseth in March to Manila, including joint exercises and American support in modernizing the armed forces of the Philippines. Marcus thanked the United States for the support “we need to face the threats we face, our country,”.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan participated in regional conflicts that have not been resolved for a long time in the South China Sea, a crowded global trade corridor.

The Chinese Coast Guard has repeatedly used a water cannon to hit the Philippine boats in the South China Sea. China accused these ships of illegally entering water or infringing on its territory.

Higseth told a security forum in Singapore in May that China is a threat and that the United States “is heading towards deterring aggression by Communist China.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tami Bruce said that during the Marcus meeting on Monday with Rubio, the two reaffirmed the coalition “to preserve peace and stability” in the region and discussed closer economic relations, including strengthening supply chains.

The United States has sought to keep communication open with Beijing. Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met this month on the sidelines of the regional forum for Southeast Asian countries in Kuala Labor, Malaysia. They agreed to explore “the areas of potential cooperation” and stressed the importance of managing differences.