President Marcos Jr. Visits Canberra to Strengthen Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership

CANBERRA, Australia – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon, Manila time, to engage in talks with the Australian Parliament regarding the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia. His arrival at the Royal Australian Air Force Fairbairn was confirmed by the Presidential Communications Office.

According to Philippines News Agency, during his pre-departure address at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, President Marcos outlined his agenda to detail the commitments aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations. The visit comes at the invitation of Australian Governor-General David Hurley, highlighting the significance of this diplomatic engagement.

During his stay in Canberra, President Marcos is anticipated to witness the signing of at least three agreements designed to bolster Philippine-Australian relations. He expressed his hope to return with strengthened ties, characterizing the future relationship as “more robust, warmer, and closer.”

This visit marks the beginning of President Marcos’s trip to Australia, with the next destination being Melbourne from March 4 to 6, where he will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Australia Special Summit. The trip underscores Australia’s role as a key defense and security partner to the Philippines, being the country’s second-largest in the field and one of only two nations with which the Philippines has a Visiting Forces Agreement.

The Filipino community in Australia, numbering approximately 408,000 individuals, including Australians of Filipino descent, further cements the deep cultural and people-to-people connections underpinning the bilateral relationship.