US SecDef Hegseth visits PH Mar 28-29; Marcos Jr’s White House trip pending

Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the Philippines on March 28-29, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit in April.

Romualdez confirmed there is no exact date for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s trip to the White House as of yet but expects it to be finalized soon after these visits.

The ambassador highlighted the importance of the Philippines-US alliance and anticipated discussions on strengthening defense ties between both countries during Secretary Hegseth's visit.

Hegseth’s landmark trip marks the first time a Pentagon chief includes a stop in Manila during his initial regional tour, underscoring the strategic significance of Philippine-US relations under President Trump.

Discussions are expected to focus on bolstering the Philippines' armed forces and enhancing deterrence capabilities in response to China's aggressiveness in the South China Sea.