Washington [US], January 29: The 2+2 dialogue between the two sides will take place for the first time in Manila (Philippines) in March, if the health of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin allows.
Nikkei Asia newspaper on January 29, citing well-informed sources, said that the US and the Philippines will hold the first 2+2 dialogue between defense and diplomatic officials of the two countries.
The 2+2 meeting will take place in the Philippines for the first time since the format began in 2012. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to meet with their counterparts Enrique Manalo and Gilbert Teodoro on March.
The visit of top officials from the US is intended to send a message to China that the allies will work together to resist the country's expansion efforts in the East Sea, according to Nikkei Asia .
The United States will reaffirm its commitment to defend the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty signed in 1951.
In December 2023, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that the East Sea "is the hot spot, not Taiwan". "If anything happens in our region, it looks like the beginning of another war, a world war, " he warned.
Sources said the location and time of the 2+2 meeting could change depending on Mr. Austin's health condition, raising the possibility of holding the dialogue in Washington.
The US Secretary of Defense is recovering from prostate cancer and complications related to surgery after he was hospitalized in early January. Reuters reported that Mr. Austin will return to the Pentagon on January 29.
It is unclear when Mr. Austin can resume foreign travel. Observers are waiting to see whether he will attend the direct meeting of NATO defense ministers scheduled to take place in mid-February in Brussels (Belgium).
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
