Photo credit: PCO

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has pledged to represent the Philippines' stance on defense and diplomacy before Singaporean leaders and the global community. In his address before departing Manila for a state visit to Brunei Darussalam followed by a working visit to Singapore, President Marcos emphasized the country's commitment to upholding a rules-based order and fostering constructive multilateralism, especially amidst escalating geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The Shangri-La Dialogue is a pivotal platform for discussing security and defense matters among various foreign ministers and defense officials. It is imperative that I attend to articulate the Philippines' perspectives and outlook on defense and diplomacy," President Marcos stated.

The President's agenda includes delivering a keynote message at the 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. This prestigious event is expected to draw numerous stakeholders in defense from around 40 countries, including heads of governments, defense ministers, and industry leaders, with an estimated 500 participants.

Notable leaders who have previously addressed the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue include Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak, among others.

President Marcos highlighted the significance of his visit to Singapore, underscoring the longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have flourished over 55 years since their formal establishment in 1969.

Furthermore, President Marcos expressed his intention to use the visit as an opportunity to invite Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to visit the Philippines, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.