PH, Germany bolster diplomatic relations

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday received in Malacañang German Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and thanked Germany's continued support for the Philippines.

Marcos said that the Philippines and Germany are close allies and partners in many aspects, such as addressing geopolitical issues, including the long-standing tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Partnership among nations is important to resolve geopolitical issues, Marcos added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes German Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 5, 2024. With them is Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

«The partnerships are important, the stability, in our case, in the South China Sea, the West Philippine Sea, as we refer to it,» the President told Pistorius, the first German defense minister to visit the Philippines.

The President said that with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations moving together, they would help «hold back the tide a little bit.»

«Every effort has its place, and I'm glad that Germany has come to join,» Marcos said, as he reiterated that his administration's foreign policy is based on peace and national interest.

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Pistorius agreed that standing together to show unity for peace is important.

«And I couldn't agree more with your assessment with regard to standing together… for peace and security, and for our interest, and that is the reason why we are engaging,» he said, mentioning Germany's Indo-Pacific deployment next year.

«As I always mentioned, during my trip here to the Indo-Pacific, presence matters and presence is key to show to China, or maybe others in the future, that we stand together, and it doesn't matter whether it's the Philippines, or Europe, or India, or whatever it is,» he added.

Prior to meeting with Marcos, Pistorius met with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner.

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Pistorius is in the country for a three-day visit.

From Manila, the German official will proceed to South Korea.