Secretary Locsin Delivers Lecture on PH Foreign Policy in Budapest

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. delivers his foreign policy lecture at Hungary’s Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) in Budapest on 14 February 2019. (Budapest PE photo)

BUDAPEST 19 February 2019 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. delivered a lecture entitled “Independent and Sovereign: The Foreign Policy of the Philippines in a Changing Global Order” at Hungary’s Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) in Budapest on 14 February 2019.

In his lecture, the Foreign Affairs Secretary spoke of how the colonial and post-independence history of the Philippines affect its foreign policy. He briefly traced the story of the Philippines from the Spanish to the American period, its experience of World War II and the Cold War, and the foreign policy developments from the administration of President Ramon Magsaysay in the 1950s to President Rodrigo Duterte today. He noted the similarities between Hungary’s 1956 and the Philippines’ 1986 revolutions, and how both countries value their sovereignties.

Secretary Locsin pointed out the importance of asserting the Philippines’ sovereignty in its relations with larger powers such as the United States and China, as well as ensuring that the Philippine government can act without undue external interference as it pursues its domestic policies, including the fight against illegal drugs. He is guided by the foreign policy of the Duterte government of being “friends to all, enemies to none.

According to Secretary Locsin, Philippine Foreign Policy has to ensure that the security challenges in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea are met through the strengthening of bilateral and regional relations such as with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve peace in the region.

The threat of terrorism was discussed by the Secretary, citing the success of the Philippine military in Marawi City against the terrorists, proving the government’s commitment to protect its people.

Secretary Locsin also answered questions from the audience on the Philippines’ position on such issues as the Belt and Road Initiative, the South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the ASEAN.

Secretary Locsin also met with IFAT Director Marton Ugrosdy, and welcomed a visit of IFAT officials to Manila. IFAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute in 2017. END

For more information, visit www.budapestpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHungary/.