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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III (right) (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet) MANILA - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the importance of further bolstering the cooperation between the Philippines and the United States (US). This was after he reaffirmed the two countries' "strong relations' during his meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at Malacanan Palace in Manila. "I'll be stating the obvious to say that our longest partner and ally has been the US," Marcos told Austin who paid him a courtesy call. "I have always said, it seems to me the future of the Philippines and for that matter, the Asia Pacific, we'll always have to involve the US simply because those partnerships are so strong." Marcos also thanked Austin for sharing his views on several geopolitical issues, especially in the Asia Pacific, saying the region "can only navigate properly with the help of

Lanao del surUnited statesFerdinandr marcos jrAsia pacificJoe bidenEnrique manaloAssociation of southeast asian nationsForeign affairsNational security adviser eduardo anoUs philippines society at malacanan onMalacanan palaceForeign affairs secretary enrique manaloPhilippines societySoutheast asian nationsPresident bidenPresident ferdinandr marcos jr left and us defense secretary lloyd austin iii right pna photo by rey baniquet manila on thursday emphasized the importance of further bolstering cooperation between philippines united states this was after he reaffirmed two countries 39 quot strong relations during his meeting with at malacanan palace in quoti ll be stating obvious to say that our longest partner ally has been