MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the country’s defense agreements with the United States are beyond politics.

President Marcos made the remark during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) question and answer session when asked if he is concerned that a Donald Trump administration would affect the ironclad commitment to the Philippines made by the Biden administration.

Marcos said if President Joe Biden is reelected, then the Philippines has a fairly solid ground to base its positions on “because we have already spoken with him.” “But inevitably, if there is a change in government, then there will be changes in policy. We do not know what those are,” he stated.

“But I believe that what we have agreed with the United States are beyond politics. And I think that since they are, they almost rise to treaty agreements, those treaty agreements must be honored. And that I think puts us on a good ground,” the President added.

The Chief Executive, however, said his administration has been taking a closer look at the American political scene and focusing on who is going to be in charge in the future.

In case former president Trump is reelected, Marcos said it is hard to determine the changes and they are all speculations for now.

Marcos, Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida concluded their historic trilateral meeting in Washington, DC last week, which was a formalization of added multilateral support and structure that will solidify the peace and stability in South China Sea.

Biden also reiterated US’ ironclad defense commitments to the Philippines and Japan during last week’s meeting, stressing any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or military in the South China Sea would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). (PND)