Philippines-US Relations: Navigating Trump’s Second Term

Now that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to reclaim his seat in the White House, the Philippine government remains optimistic that the alliance between the Philippines and the United States will remain robust and strong.

In an ambush interview, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confidently stated that he does not expect any significant changes despite the impending leadership transition in the U.S.

“They [U.S.] are our oldest treaty partner; that doesn’t change. So, I will have to see if there is a major shift, but I don’t think so. I don’t think so,” Marcos said.

Even before U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the electoral race, Marcos had already sent his congratulatory message to Trump.

In a statement, President Marcos emphasised that the American people triumphed not only by electing a new leader but also by showcasing the strength of American values to the world.

“We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, a common vision, and a long history of cooperation,” Marcos said.

Marcos added that he had met President Trump as a young man and believes his robust leadership will contribute to a better future for all.

“I am hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in both war and peace, will serve as a force for good, blazing a path of prosperity and amity across the region and both sides of the Pacific,” he said.

“This is a durable partnership the Philippines is fully committed to because it is founded on the ideals we share: freedom and democracy,” Marcos reiterated.

TRUMP'S FRIENDSHIP WITH IMELDA MARCOS

In a separate interview, Marcos shared that he had a phone call with Donald Trump the other day to congratulate the president-elect. He mentioned that Trump fondly remembered his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

"Ang kaibigan niya talaga mother ko. Kilalang-kilala niya 'yung mother ko. Kinukumusta niya. 'How is Imelda?' Sabi ko, binabati ka nga."

(My mother is Trump's good friend. He knows my mom, and he even asked me, 'How is Imelda?' And I said, she's sending her regards and congratulations to you.)

Marcos also reiterated to Trump the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States. He reminded the president-elect about the overwhelming support he received from Filipinos living in America.

“I also reminded the President-elect that ang mga Pilipino sa Amerika, overwhelmingly...binoto nila si Trump. Kaya’t I’m sure maaalala niya ‘yan, kapag nagkita kami at plano kong makipagkita sa kanya as soon as I can,” Marcos said.

(I told him Filipinos in the US overwhelmingly voted for him, so I am sure he will remember that when we meet, and I plan to meet him as soon as possible.)

The Philippine president described his phone call with Trump as cordial and "very productive."

SECURITY ALLIANCE AND THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States date back a long way. Established in 1946, these ties make the Philippines the oldest U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific region.

Additionally, the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) has provided a foundation for a strong security partnership and cooperation.

The U.S. has consistently been vocal in supporting the Philippines’ claims over the West Philippine Sea, emphasising its ironclad commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The U.S. State Department has condemned the series of incidents involving Chinese ships ramming Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, which have caused significant damage. It has also reiterated its call for China to align its claims and actions with international law and to refrain from dangerous and destabilising behaviour.

At the Bagong Pilipinas briefing, Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the Philippines’ National Security Council, stated that the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific began during Trump’s first term as president. Consequently, he does not anticipate any major changes, given the strong treaties and ties between the two nations.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shares this optimism.

“The reason why I say this is because of the existence of several agreements—the MDT being one. And aside from that, we share a long history of defence cooperation with the United States. We fought together during World War II, and they have continued to support us in our campaign against terrorism. Even now, as we face other threats in the region, they still continue to support us,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner explained during a press briefing.

Brawner also noted that even before the presidential elections, U.S. officials had already assured the Philippines of continued support, particularly in the defence sector, regardless of the election outcome.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the MDT guidelines reaffirm that an armed attack in the Pacific—including anywhere in the South China Sea—on either nation’s public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces, including their Coast Guards, would invoke mutual defence commitments under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

TRUMP REACHED OUT

During former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, the Philippine leader maintained a notably friendly relationship with China despite ongoing territorial disputes, which often placed the Philippines’ ties with the United States on the back burner.

Just a few months into his term at Malacañang, Duterte publicly insulted his U.S. counterpart, then-President Barack Obama, over human rights concerns, calling him a “son of a whore.” Obama had raised concerns about Duterte’s war on drugs, which allegedly led to extrajudicial killings. This criticism did not sit well with Duterte.

Duterte later apologised to Obama for his harsh words.

However, when Donald Trump assumed the presidency, efforts were made to improve the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

In 2017, Trump personally called Duterte to congratulate him on the “unbelievable job on the drug problem.” That same year, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila, where they appeared to establish a positive rapport.

This marked a notable improvement in Philippines-U.S. relations during the Trump administration.

Given Trump’s previous leadership, the current Philippine administration anticipates the same level of warmth and strong ties with the United States during his second term as president.

TRADE PARTNERSHIP

The United States is the third-largest trading partner of the Philippines. Key imports from the Philippines include coconut oil, wheat, animal feed, automobile parts, and electric machinery.

The Philippines’ Finance Secretary Ralph Recto hopes that trade relations between the two countries will continue to improve under the incoming Trump administration.

“We are a national security ally of the United States. I’m sure they’re well aware that our economic security—if our economy does better—will make us a more dependable ally,” Recto said in an ambush interview at Malacañang.

In 2022, the total trade in goods and services between the Philippines and the United States amounted to approximately $36.1 billion.

FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNTIED STATES

One of Trump’s promises during his election campaign was to implement stricter policies on immigration. This included his pledge to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows foreign workers to enter the U.S. for employment.

This raises the question of how such policies will affect Filipino immigrants, given that Filipino-American workers make up the third-largest immigrant population in the United States.

In an interview with One PH, former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas explained that Trump’s "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) ideology prioritises hiring American workers for vacant jobs.

However, Llamas noted that American workers are often selective when it comes to accepting certain types of employment, making it challenging to enforce stricter immigration policies effectively.

“’Yun ang mahihirapan gawin dahil ‘yung industrial base, ‘yung workers ng America ay karamihan mga migrants. So, it is easier said than done dahil maraming mga Amerikano ay hindi tatanggap ng murang sahod at ‘yung mga blue collar jobs na tinatawag natin,” Llamas said.

(It will be difficult to implement because the industrial base, particularly workers in America, is mostly made up of migrants. So, it is easier said than done because Americans will not accept low-paying jobs and blue-collar jobs.)

Following Trump’s election victory, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez urged undocumented Filipino immigrants to proactively return to the Philippines rather than waiting for deportation.

The statement was issued after Trump announced plans to deploy the military for large-scale deportations.

According to the U.S.-based Pew Research Center, using its latest data from 2022, the Philippines ranked 13th among the top 14 countries of origin for undocumented immigrants, with 130,000 Filipinos living in the U.S. without legal status.

When asked by the media if he discussed this issue with Donald Trump, President Marcos said, "We didn't talk about that," but assured that the Philippine ambassador is already addressing the matter.

-Asia Media Centre