President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eliyahu Cohen at Malacañang as part of efforts to strengthen security and commercial ties between the two countries.
Cohen arrived in the Philippines on Sunday for a two-day visit aimed at increasing bilateral cooperation, notably in security and the economy.
It was the first visit to the Philippines by an Israeli foreign minister since former Foreign Minister Abba Eban in March 1967.
As such, Malacañang has yet to share any information on the meeting.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of Israel and the Philippines' diplomatic relations, and the Philippine Navy has acquired Israeli Shaldag-class patrol boats to bolster the military's ability to defend the country's shorelines.
Marcos previously stated that the patrol vessels would be deployed to the West Philippine Sea to help defend the country's waterways, as well as used for disaster and humanitarian relief.
The Philippines and Israel struck an agreement on Monday that will allow both countries to share best practices for solving similar environmental concerns and preserving ecosystems.
Following their bilateral meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Foreign Minister Cohen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, in which the two countries agreed to share best practices in disaster risk management and the promotion and dissemination of environmental technologies.
During the meeting, Manalo and his counterpart reviewed important areas of cooperation.
He described the Philippines-Israel connection as "unique and enduring," characterized by friendliness, kindness, and strong people-to-people relationships that predate the establishment of the Israeli state.
The secretary emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in sectors like defense and security, tourism, trade and investment, agriculture, research and technology, and people-to-people relationships.
The Philippine side highlighted the necessity of promoting peace and stability as well as building trust with key regional partners.
