Philippines and UK Hold Inaugural Strategic Dialogue
DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro (right) co-chaired the Inaugural Philippines-United Kingdom Strategic Dialogue with the UK’s Minister of State for Indo-Pacific The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP (left) on 2 November in London. (Photo credit: London PE).
LONDON 06 November 2023 – DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro co-chaired the inaugural Strategic Dialogue between the Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) with UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP on 2 November 2023.
The Strategic Dialogue was established to set strategic policy directions under the Philippines-UK Enhanced Partnership, underpinned by the two countries’ shared respect for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, and their commitment to upholding a rules-based international order. It also caps a highly productive year of thematic bilateral meetings on political, maritime, defense, economic and climate and environment cooperation.
Undersecretary Lazaro expressed her appreciation to Minister Trevelyan for hosting the inaugural Strategic Dialogue, held a few months after the visit of UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to Manila on 29 August 2023.
Both Undersecretary Lazaro and Minister Trevelyan agreed that the conduct of the Strategic Dialogue is timely, in view of the rapidly evolving geostrategic landscape in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The Strategic Dialogue encouraged closer political, economic, maritime and sectoral cooperation, acknowledging the importance of a multifaceted approach to enhancing relations.
The two co-Chairs looked forward to the finalization of Memoranda of Understanding on Defense Cooperation and on Cyber Security, reflecting the momentum generated by the Enhanced Partnership and adding further value to the ever-growing strategic engagements between the countries.
Both sides also welcomed closer economic cooperation, having identified ways to encourage even stronger bilateral trade and investment ties. In terms of investments, the UK has the distinction of being a top source of investments in the Philippines, with potential to increase even further through the launch of the British Investment Partnerships in the country this year.
The Philippine and British delegations also discussed sectoral cooperation in democracy and peace; human rights; consular affairs; climate change and the environment; science and technology including AI and cyber; and people-to-people exchanges. They exchanged views on regional and international issues, particularly on geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific, West Philippine Sea, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
The visit to London by Undersecretary Lazaro adds to a growing list of high-level exchanges between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, the most notable of which was the attendance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. during the Coronation of His Majesty The King last May 2023. END