Marcos to address Shangri-La Dialogue

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touched down in Singapore late Wednesday for a working visit.

The highlight of his two-day stop will be a keynote address at the opening of the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue.

The chief executive said his participation in the defense and security gathering is highly important, noting the invitation in itself is significant. «The fact that they asked the Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense that it is a recognition that there are challenges that are facing the Philippines, specifically,» he said.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. administration's brand of governance and leadership, called Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines), calls for transformation in all sectors of society and government. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO

«And not only the Philippines, but this affects the region and it affects the world. So, what I will present in the Shangri-la forum [the] day after tomorrow is going to essentially try to explain the position of the Philippines for both legally and geopolitically and diplomatically. And how we see the ways forward for the Philippines and for the region,» he said.

Marcos is the first sitting Philippine leader to speak in the dialogue that will be attended by defense ministers, military leaders, other senior defense officials, as well as business leaders and security experts from Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.

Among those expected to attend the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue are multiple stakeholders in defense, ranging from heads of governments, heads of states, and defense of ministers to industry players from around 40 countries.

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Other world leaders who have delivered keynote addresses were Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in 2023; Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-O-Cha 2016; Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak 2011; Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-Bak 2010; and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd 2009. Marcos will have a series of high-level meetings with Singaporean officials as part.

Philippine-Singapore diplomatic relations span 55 years. The two nations