MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines believes the successful first meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is a positive indication of the support of both countries in pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“The Philippines welcomes the successful first meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba which bodes well for the realization of our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the DFA said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Philippines looks forward to continue working with the United States and Japan, through our trilateral partnership, in implementing the Trilateral Joint Vision Statement, including expanding our cooperation in enhancing economic resilience and security, promoting inclusive growth and development, addressing climate change, and maritime cooperation,” DFA added.

On February 7, Ishiba and Trump held their first in-person meeting in Washington D.C. and discussed U.S. and Japan relations, including both leaders’ views on “the severe and complex security environment” and agreed to work closely “to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” according to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.

The embassy also mentioned that Trump and Ishiba underscored the importance of further developing coordination of like-minded countries, including Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan-Australia-India-U.S. and Japan-U.S.-Philippines.

Last April 11, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. met with then U.S. President Joseph Biden and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a trilateral summit in Washington D.C., where they reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, guided by the values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stated.