Lazaro stresses strong US-Philippines partnership at Independence Day reception

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized the Philippines' commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with the United States during her first major appearance at the US Independence Day reception in Taguig City on Thursday.

Lazaro highlighted the diverse areas of cooperation between the two countries, including political, security, defense, trade, investment, and development, underscoring the importance of sustaining the US-Philippines treaty alliance.

The Philippine-US relationship has seen several high-level visits this year, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's trip to the Philippines in March, and most recently, a meeting between Quad foreign ministers in Washington D.C., where they reaffirmed their commitment to a 'free and open Indo-Pacific'.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson underscored the shared history and ongoing partnership between the two nations in fostering economic opportunity and defending freedom of navigation, noting that the alliance is stronger than ever.

Last month, the US government announced new funding for the construction of a railway project under the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative involving the Philippines, the US, and Japan, further strengthening bilateral ties.