Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo Delivers Keynote Address at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Regional Outlook Forum 2025 in Singapore

SINGAPORE 10 January 2025 - Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo delivered the Keynote Address at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Regional Outlook Forum (ROF) 2025 in Singapore on 09 January 2025,

Speaking on the theme of”Can the Spirit of Cooperation Shine Through Turbulent Times?” Secretary Manalo emphasized that challenging times more often than not compel states to seek cooperation with others. “If the international community is to be resilient amidst global winds of change, then the rules-based international order should underpin such cooperation,”Secretary Manalo asserted.

Dispelling notions that the fate of the world is still dictated by one or two great powers, Secretary Manalo pointed out that the South-South cooperation has flourished in the past decade, with many state actors outside the outdated cold-war prism actively shaping the global agenda, especially in the fields of resilience, sustainability, and transformation. In particular, the Secretary shared the reality-driven initiatives of Pacific Island countries in forging pathways for global solidarity on climate change, including the initiative of the Philippines to launch sustainable health resources in the Pacific region last November 2024.

On multilateralism, Secretary Manalo underscored that there is no alternative platform to address global challenges that the United Nations, and the UN continues to serve as an enduring edifice for the common good. Regionally, the Secretary likewise expressed his optimism regarding the future of ASEAN, noting that ASEAN’s mechanisms, including the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, provide the only functional hub of engagement for the states in the region.

An area of critical importance identified by Secretary Manalo is the governance of the global commons, in particular the maritime commons of the region. Citing our seas and oceans as a lifeline, the Secretary stressed the importance of getting governance right in the maritime commons and applying the best of science, international law, and norms on management, which are key to maintaining peace in the region.

Secretary Manalo emphasized that “the postwar architecture has demonstrated incredible resilience, allowing the international community through bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperative endeavors to weather global volatility.”

“Our job as policymakers is to sustain these endeavors,” the Secretary concluded.

Following the Keynote Address, Secretary Manalo answered questions from the body, with topics ranging from the future of ASEAN and the UN to the direction of PH foreign policy. END