President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is ready to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington as soon as their schedules align, Philippine ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
He added that the meeting could take place as early as spring, around March or April, but did not specify a date.
“Obviously, with what’s happening right now, we probably may be able to expect some ideas on having this meeting sometime around the spring of this year,” Romualdez said during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Prospects Forum in Manila on March 3.
“I wouldn’t want to put any fixed date on it because, at the end of the day, it’s really a matter of timing,” he added.
He noted that Marcos remains busy with the ongoing campaign season, which could affect the timing of the meeting. “President Marcos also is quite busy with the campaign here. So, we’d like to make sure that the timing is just perfect for both leaders to have that meeting,” he said.
Trade, security, and military cooperation
Romualdez said the Philippines wants to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. as part of a broader trade relationship. He also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining its defense agreements with the U.S.
As regional tensions grow, the Philippines expects continued U.S. military support. Romualdez expressed confidence that Trump’s administration would sustain military patrols in the disputed South China Sea and proceed with the planned expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Philippines.
“I think all of that will remain. I am confident that it will,” he said, citing a $336 million exemption that allowed military aid to the Philippines despite a freeze on U.S. foreign spending.
Romualdez also acknowledged shifting U.S. foreign policies, particularly regarding Ukraine, but said he remains optimistic about the future of defense ties between Manila and Washington.
Immigration on agenda
Meanwhile, Marcos expressed his intent to meet with Trump to discuss immigration policies affecting Filipinos in the U.S. He said he plans to raise key issues, including trade, security, and immigration.
“I will meet with President Trump because I should, because there’s much that we need to discuss between the U.S. and the Philippines in terms of trade, defense and security, and now the new policy on immigration,” he told reporters in January.
He emphasized that Filipinos play a crucial role in the American workforce, making immigration a priority in his discussions with Trump.
“Filipinos in the U.S. have already formed a very important part of their workforce,” Marcos said. “This is something that we have to work through and hopefully resolve.”
As the Trump administration starts its massive campaign against illegal aliens, concerns are growing among the estimated 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States. But Marcos said the Philippine government would work to “influence” U.S. immigration policies to protect its citizens.
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) dismissed fears of mass deportations, saying a large-scale crackdown is almost impossible. DFA officials noted that during Trump’s first term, U.S. authorities deported only a few hundred undocumented Filipinos each month.
Despite these assurances, many Filipino migrants fear stricter immigration policies could put them at risk. The Philippine government continues to monitor the situation, aiming to safeguard its citizens while navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration policy.
Photo credit: US – Philippines Society. Philippine ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez.
