(Eagle News) — (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte had a closed door meeting Thursday night, February 28, with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo who came to the Philippines straight from the historic second summit of President Donald Trump in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Pompeo, immediately after arriving in Manila, said he intended to “work closely” with the Philippines “to address regional issues such as #NorthKorea, the South China Sea, and counterterrorism,” in a tweet he posted on his official twitter account.
The US official described the Philippines as a “long standing ally.”
Just arrived in #Manila, capital of our longstanding ally the Philippines. We work closely to address regional issues such as #NorthKorea, the South China Sea, and counterterrorism. #FriendsPartnersAllies pic.twitter.com/uNMSN7qkhJ
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) Pebrero 28, 2019
Pompeo’s plane landed at the Villamor Air Base Thursday night, at 8:36 pm.
He and the Philippine president then had a closed door meeting which began at 9:05 p.m, and lasted for about an hour at the Villamor Air Base’s Kalayaan Lounge.
“The meeting underscored our cooperation on bilateral and regional security issues,” a statement from the US Embassy in Manila said.
-Productive meeting-
Pompeo also described the meeting with Duterte as “productive” and said he was looking forward “to continued cooperation on regional security.”
“Productive meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte – look forward to continued cooperation on regional security. #FriendsPartnersAllies,” Pompeo said in his tweet posted after the meeting.
Productive meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte – look forward to continued cooperation on regional security. #FriendsPartnersAllies pic.twitter.com/7n56qsBT6b
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) Pebrero 28, 2019
While in the Philippines, Secretary Pompeo will also meet with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “to reaffirm the enduring U.S.-Philippines alliance, as well as joint efforts to ensure peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” the US Embassy statement said.
“In addition, Secretary Pompeo will engage with Philippine business leaders about opportunities for increasing the two nations’ robust economic partnership,” the statement added.
Upon arrival at the Villamor Air Base, Pompeo was welcomed by U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Senior Bureau Official for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs W. Patrick Murphy.
Also in the US delegation was Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of US Department of State.
Philippine officials who welcomed Pompeo, together with President Duterte, were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Sec. Lumen Esleta.
