Philippine Officials Assure U.S. Ties Are Strong Amid Trump’s Foreign Policy Shifts

Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro reassures the nation of steadfast military support from the U.S., despite President Trump's unpredictable foreign policy stance.

The tides of international relations seem turbulent, yet within the Philippines, there remains a steadfast belief in the strength of ties with the United States. Officials in Manila assert that despite President Trump’s erratic shifts in foreign policy—including a strained relationship with Ukraine—confidence in U.S. support remains unshaken. The shared adversary of China looms large over this alliance, as both Washington and Manila confront escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

The recent revival of around $400 million in U.S. military aid to the Philippines reinforces this sentiment. Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. views the funding restoration as a testament to the resilient bond between the two nations. “That was the ‘best proof’ that ties between the two countries were intact,” he stated following the announcement, which came shortly after Trump halted military aid to Ukraine.

Teodoro, having met with officials in Trump’s cabinet, reflects that they received firm assurances regarding continued U.S. support for the Philippines in adherence to their mutual defense treaty. “We have no reason to doubt the commitments made by the highest officials of the Trump administration,” he affirmed.

However, Trump's unpredictable approach to alliances, which includes contentious tariffs on Canada, strains on European relationships, and a dismissal of NATO, raises concerns. The lack of clear communication from Trump on U.S.-Philippines relations has left many in the Philippines apprehensive, as they navigate the complexities of global politics in a region increasingly influenced by China’s territorial ambitions.