President Marcos will embark on a two-day visit to Australia next week where he is scheduled to address the Australian Parliament in Canberra.
He will be the first Filipino leader to address the Australian Parliament, the Presidential Communications Office said yesterday.
Mr. Marcos, who will be in Australia from Feb. 28 to 29, is expected to discuss the vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries during his address before the parliament.
The Philippines and Australia in September signed a document to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, aiming to bring a “more dynamic, cooperative, and prosperous future” to both countries.
The Philippines and Australia will mark the 78th anniversary of diplomatic relations in November.
“Similarly, the visit will witness the signing of new agreements in areas of common interest to complement the already robust cooperation with Australia and expand engagements for mutual capacity building,” the PCO said.
It is still unclear, however, whether President Marcos will tackle defense cooperation and possible military equipment deals with Australia.
Australia is the Philippines’ second largest partner in defense and security. It is also one of only two countries that have a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines.
As of 2022, about 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent reside in Australia.