Envoy: Marcos' Russia trip proves PH is a reliable partner to all

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Russia and his meeting with President Vladimir Putin affirms the Philippines’ diplomatic position of being a trustworthy partner to both traditional allies and emerging partners, according to Manila’s envoy in Moscow.

Marcos arrived on Wednesday in Kazan, where his first agenda is to have a bilateral meeting with Putin to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation in food security, and energy security, including talks on possible importation of crude oil, natural gas and nuclear energy.

They are also expected to talk about “some very regional international issues, including the Middle East crisis, which is seen to end after the United States and Iran have reached a ceasefire agreement to end the war.

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READ: Marcos to meet Putin in Asean-Russia summit

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The two leaders will then join other heads of government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Aaean) in a gala dinner to mark the 35 years of dialogue relations between the 11-member regional bloc and Eurasia’s largest country.

According to Philippine Ambassador to Russia Igor Bailen, Marcos’ visit “[proves]  that the Philippines can be a reliable partner, not just with our traditional partners and allies, but with other countries as well,” which is in line with the country’s foreign policy of being “friend to all, enemy to none.”

During the summit, Asean leaders and President Putin are expected to review the progress of Asean-Russia strategic partnership and discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as biosafety and biosecurity, outer space and satellite applications, energy and food security, science and technology, trade and investment, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders will adopt the Asean-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action 2026-2030, which will serve as the principal roadmap for advancing cooperation across the political security, economic and sociocultural pillars of the partnership.

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They will also have a Kazan Declaration, which will articulate the shared vision of Asean and Russia as we commemorate 35 years of partnership as well as joint statements on energy and on cultural cooperation.

Bailen said there would also be specific agreements on a joint declaration on energy cooperation and cultural cooperation.

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“With President Marcos as co-chair of the summit, these agreements and declarations will mark where the leaders want to take the Asean-Russia relationship,” Bailen said.

READ: Philippines to push labor pact with Russia during Marcos-Putin meeting

While Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine is not officially part of the agenda, there is a possibility for Marcos or other Asean leaders to bring the issue up during the series of meetings in the Asean-Russia summit.

During the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu last May, the 11-member bloc called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities and the serious engagement in a genuine dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

“With regard to Ukraine, as for all nations, we continued to reaffirm our respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. We reiterated our call for compliance with the [United Nations] Charter and international law,” the Asean chair said in its statement.

Marcos’ two-day working visit is his first time on Russian soil — 50 years after his father, then-President Marcos Sr. made his own historic visit to the then-Soviet Union in 1976, which culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations between Manila and Moscow.

In his departure statement, the President said this milestone “opened an enduring chapter in Philippines-Russia relations grounded in mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation—one that we continue to build upon today.”

“As chair of Asean, the Philippines is committed to ensuring that this commemorative summit produces substantive and forward-looking outcomes that deepen Asean’s Strategic Partnership with Russia and contribute, in concrete terms, to regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity,” Marcos added.

During the Asean-Russia summit, Marcos said the Philippines “will continue to champion Asean unity, centrality, and solidarity, and promote an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture anchored in international law.”

“We travel to Kazan with purpose, and we return with renewed commitment to our partnership,” he added.

While the Asean as a whole keeps a neutral stance on its relations with Russia, the 11 members have different positions with Moscow and its activities.

A number of the 11 members of Asean are perceived to be aligned with the United States, which has a complex relationship with Russia and its biggest ally in Asia, China.

The Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States, and the two countries’ relations grew more active during the Marcos administration especially with the expansion of American military access in Philippines bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, as well as the development of the multibillion dollar Luzon Economic Corridor.

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The Philippines also has warm ties with Ukraine, with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting President Marcos in Malacañang in June 2024. The two leaders also had a phone call in November last year. /mr