U.S. Congressional Delegation Meets With Secretary Manalo

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo received the U.S. Congressional Delegation on 14 April 2025. (L-R: U.S. Ambassador to PH MaryKay Carlson, Senator Chris Coons, SFA Manalo, Senator Pete Ricketts, and Senator Tedd Budd) (Photo by DFA-OPD)

MANILA 16 April 2025 — Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo met with a bipartisan U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL) composed of Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) during the CODEL’s visit to the Philippines on 14 April 2025.

Senator Ricketts expressed his appreciation to the Philippines’ leadership in preserving peace and stability in the region and underscored US support for the historic PH-US alliance. The Secretary and CODEL discussed opportunities to reinforce PH-US defense and security cooperation, the importance of building economic security and resilience, and exchanged views in addressing regional peace and security challenges.

Senator Ricketts and Senator Coons are currently serving as Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s (SFRC) Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy, and are both members of the SFRC’s Subcommittee on State Department & USAID Management, International Operations, & Bilateral International Development. Senator Budd, meanwhile, is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The CODEL’s visit, the first under the new Trump administration, and its meeting with the Secretary highlights the strength of the PH-U.S. treaty alliance. END