President Marcos should be more circumspect in dealing with the United States under President Donald Trump, noting how America appears to have abandoned embattled Ukraine and pivoted towards Russia, a Filipino academic and a former Supreme Court justice said yesterday.
“We have to be careful with how we deal with the US government given that it is likely that the US government will become more unpredictable with its commitments,” said Arjan Aguirre, a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, who is currently based in the US.
“President Marcos should be careful, should deal with the US government with [circumspection],” he said.
Aguirre’s warning was echoed by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio who said that the Philippines “must prepare for the worst by strengthening its self-defense capabilities at all costs while hoping for the best.”
In an online forum, Carpio hit the United States for voting against a United Nations position to condemn Russia for its “unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
“For the first time in memory, the US has voted in favor of the aggressor state against the victim of aggression,” he said.
“The coastal states bordering the South China Sea are forewarned that China will now be emboldened to act aggressively in making the nine-dash line its international boundary in the South China Sea,” the former justice said.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump figured in a verbal clash in an Oval Office meeting, prompting Washington to back off from its commitment to help Kyiv win its war against Moscow.
In less than two months since returning to the White House, Trump has established “this tendency that they will ask something in return,” Aguirre pointed out.
“I am inclined to think that we should do something on our part as a sovereign nation to also protect our interest and lessen our reliance with our ally, the United States of America,” he said.
“We cannot afford to lose the US as our ally, but that should not mean that we should stop exploring other means to diversify ties.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of Filipino youths came together to take a stand on the country’s sovereignty during the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Summit organized by the City Government of San Fernando, La Union and the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM).
The advocacy dubbed “Making Waves: Youth Leaders Unite at the West Philippine Sea Summit” featured keynote speakers and panel discussions that aimed to engage and empower the youth on critical issues surrounding the WPS, encompassing its geopolitical and environmental significance, the implication of the 2016 arbitral ruling and the urgent need for sustainable advocacy.
The summit also highlighted the critical role of the youth in raising awareness and advocating for the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Key speaker Janina Gillian Santos urged young people to lead initiatives, build trust, and collaborate with stakeholders to address the WPS issues collectively.
She emphasized the importance of education and maritime awareness.
For her part, lawyer Maria Isabel Cañaveral discussed environmental concerns in the WPS, Navy Spokesperson for WPS while Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad provided an overview of the current WPS dispute.
Jayanil Charis Enriquez, president of the Youth Empowerment Society for WPS, encouraged youth organizations to take meaningful actions, inspire others, and advocate for peaceful resolutions, stressing that the youth have a vital role in shaping the future of the WPS.