MANILA – Two Asian allies strengthened their partnership Tuesday as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for high-level discussions in the Philippine capital.
During the state visit, both leaders addressed what Marcos described as “growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments” and committed to supporting a rules-based international order, particularly regarding maritime issues.
The meeting resulted in expanded collaboration across several key industries. The two nations agreed to work more closely in shipbuilding, nuclear energy development, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Lee announced that cooperation would extend to infrastructure projects and defense manufacturing. “South Korea and the Philippines plan to work together on critical minerals and supply chains,” Lee stated during the discussions.
Military modernization emerged as a significant focus, with Lee confirming that South Korean companies would assist in upgrading Philippine armed forces capabilities.
The leaders also addressed current Middle East tensions during their bilateral talks.
Multiple memorandums of understanding were formalized covering diverse areas including digital technology advancement, defense equipment procurement, agricultural development, intellectual property protection, foreign language instruction, cultural exchange, and law enforcement cooperation.
