President Bongbong Marcos and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed security and economic priorities, including the South China Sea and regional energy concerns, during a phone call on Monday morning, June 1.
Marcos posted about the call on his official Facebook page, describing the conversation as productive. He said he and Rubio discussed critical regional and economic priorities, bilateral trade matters, and shared regional interests.
The U.S. State Department also released a readout of the conversation through spokesperson Thomas Pigott. According to the statement, Rubio spoke with Marcos about a range of economic and security concerns, including efforts to advance peace and security in the South China Sea.
The State Department said Rubio also reaffirmed U.S. support for the Luzon Economic Corridor, a trilateral initiative involving the Philippines, the United States, and Japan that seeks to boost infrastructure and investment projects in Luzon. Rubio also discussed possible ways to address energy challenges in the region.
The U.S. readout also highlighted the strength of the long-standing alliance between Manila and Washington, as both countries mark 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years as allies in 2026.
Rubio is also drawing attention beyond the State Department, with early 2028 Republican polling showing him as a leading possible presidential contender and, in some surveys, ahead of Vice President JD Vance.
