MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) on Tuesday expressed sympathy and offered assistance to the Philippines following the massive flooding brought about by Typhoon Carina that submerged the whole metropolis and nearby provinces.
The commitment was made in a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Malacañang.
“Let me just start by sending our deepest condolences to all the victims of the recent typhoon and to say again, anything we can do to be of assistance, we welcome doing that,” Blinken told Marcos.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday renewed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening its working relationship with the US in terms of the two nations’ alliance and issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the Indo-Pacific region. PCO Photo
Austin, for his part, emphasized the longstanding relations between the Philippines and the US, saying that two countries were “family.”
“It really is great to be back in the country again and also his offer of condolences for those who have been affected by the storm,” Austin said.
“And I’ve said a number of times that we’re more than allies, we’re family and it always feels that way when, you know, I’m working with our colleagues,” he added.
Blinken and Austin are in Manila for the 2+2 US-Philippines Ministerial Dialogue, where they will be joined by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
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