PBBM binigyan ng full military honors sa Pentagon; Atake sa Coast Guard ng bansa, sakop ng Mutual Defense Treaty

Pinagkalooban ng full military honors si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa Pentagon bago ang kaniyang pakikipagpulong kay U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III.

Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na binigyan ng full military honors ceremony ang isang dayuhang pinuno ng bansa sa Pentagon sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni U.S. President Joe Biden.

Sa kanilang pagpupulong, inulit ni Austin ang ‘ironclad commitment’ ng Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas sa ilalim ng Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

Partikular na tinukoy ng US Defense chief ang suporta ng Amerika sa mga isyung kinakaharap nito sa South China Sea sa harap ng umiinit na tensyon sa rehiyon.

“The treaty applies to armed attacks on our armed forces, coast guard vessels, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea,” bahagi ng mensahe ni Austin sa pagtanggap kay Marcos sa Pentagon.

So make no mistake, Mr. President, we will always have your back in the South China Sea or elsewhere in the region,” dagdag pa ng US Defense chief.

Sinabi pa ng US official na hindi nila maaring pabayaan ang Pilipinas na itinuturing nilang pamilya.

“For decades, the Philippines had been an indispensable friend and ally to the United States. Our alliance is rooted in our common democratic values and draws strength from the deep bonds between our people. And I said before, Mr. President, we’re more than allies, we’re family,” dagdag na mensahe pa ni Sec. Austin.

Nagpasalamat naman si Pangulong Marcos sa mainit na pagtanggap sa kaniya ng Estados Unidos na naglalayong higit na patatagin ang relasyon sa Pilipinas na inilarawan niyang “long-standing” at “very robust.”

“And the call of the times, unfortunately, is asking for us to meet these challenges, new challenges that perhaps we have not faced before. And that’s why it is very important, it’s continuing exchanges that we have started,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“And so, Mr. Secretary, I look forward to a very bright future between the Philippines and the United States. A future that is founded on the long, experienced and as you said, friendship and familial relationship, it’s the people-to-people, the people-to-people exchanges between our two countries have been ongoing at every level. And it is our job, I believe now, to strengthen that and to build upon,” diin pa ng Chief Executive.

Ang Pentagon visit ni Pangulong Marcos ay bahagi ng mga serye ng pagpupulong na isinagawa sa Washington D.C.

Nauna nang nagsagawa ng bilateral meeting si Pangulong Marcos kay US President Joe Biden sa Oval Office sa White House noong May 1.

Noong Pebrero ay bumisita si Austin sa Pilipinas at sinundan naman ng “two-plus-two” ministerial talks sa Washington noong Abril.

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