As the world bids farewell to Jimmy Carter, America’s longest-lived president who passed away at 100, Manila Standard looks back at his presidency’s impact on US-Philippines relations in the late 70s towards the early 80s.
Like many of his democratic predecessors, Carter valued freedom. His foreign policy stood as a testament to his diplomatic finesse in balancing human rights advocacy with strategic partnerships.
During his presidency from 1977 to 1981, the Philippines and US developed a significant partnership. His administration navigated the Cold War alliance while pushing for democratic reforms in the Philippines amid President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s martial law.
One of the enduring legacies of Carter in the Philippines was the 1979 amendment to the Military Bases Agreement. The Philippines gained greater control over its sovereign territory with the US pledging $500 million in military and economic aid over five years as compensation.
“In particular, we remain firmly committed to the independence, security and territorial integrity of the Philippines,” Carter in his letter to President Marcos Sr. in 1977.
Carter’s presidency introduced an important foundation to US-PH relations—one that valued democratic principles through the rule of law and human rights. Carter did not hold back and openly expressed concerns over civil liberties under Marcos’s martial law.
“Mr. President, as you are aware, I personally attach major importance to the advancement of human rights, particularly personal liberty and due process. I intend to improve our record in the United States, and I hope that you will give your personal consideration to what might be done in the Philippines in this area as well,” Carter told the Marcos patriarch in the same letter.
The Carter administration also strengthened economic bonds between the two nations. The Philippines continued to benefit from the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program in 1974, which provided preferential treatment for Philippine exports entering the American market.
Decades later, the program remains a key economic link, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently urging the US Congress to expedite its reauthorization during an appeal in April 2024.
Carter’s approach to US-Philippines relations established key precedents for future administrations. By balancing strong strategic alliances with a firm commitment to democratic values, it continues to influence the foreign policy of both nations today.
“The United States has no older or more loyal friend in the Pacific region than the Philippines. The American people and I are confident that this friendship is solidly based on shared interests and values and will endure,” Carter said.
