U.S. Institute of Peace

04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 07:42

The Indo-Pacific’s Newest Minilateral Emerges

Last week, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stepped foot in the Oval Office for the second time in a year. Joining Marcos this time was Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the leader of the United States' most important ally in Asia and, arguably, the world. The Philippines has long been among a second rung of regional allies, so this first-ever trilateral summit marks Manila's entrance as a leading U.S. ally working to maintain order and prevent Chinese revisionism in East Asia.