The Future of the U.S.–Philippines Alliance

Past
 Roundtable

Changing regional dynamics and new realities in Philippine domestic politics over the past four years have posed challenges to policy makers in both Washington and Manila.

Duterte previously declared his intention to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement that authorized US military personnel to train with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a key element of the bilateral security relationship. Termination has now been suspended, and last month during his UNGA speech Duterte articulated a more forceful defense of the Philippine position on the South China Sea dispute.

With less than two years left in his term, where is President Duterte taking Philippine policy? Are we seeing hints of “rebalance” in Duterte’s “equi-balanced” foreign policy approach toward the U.S., China, and other major players? What is the U.S. strategy to sustain its relationship with the Philippines?

This event is co-hosted with the US – Philippines Society.

Speakers:

Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard, former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and Senior Director at McLarty Associates

Thomas C. Hubbard is a former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1996-2000) and South Korea (2001-04) who had a distinguished forty-year career with the foreign service. He is a Founding Director of the US-Philippines Society and also sits on other advisory boards including as Chairman of The Korea Society in New York City. He received his BA in political science from the University of Alabama and has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Maryland and the University of Alabama.

Renato Cruz De Castro, Professor in the International Studies Department & Charles Lui Chi Keung Professorial Chair in China Studies, De La Salle University

Renato Cruz De Castro is a full professor in the International Studies Department, De La Salle University, Manila, and holds the Charles Lui Chi Keung Professorial Chair in China Studies. His research interests include Philippine-U.S. security relations and Philippine defense and foreign policy.

William Wise, Non-Resident Fellow and Chair, Southeast Asia Forum, Stimson Center; Practitioner-in-Residence, Retired, Southeast Asia Studies, JHU – SAIS (Moderator)

William Wise is a Nonresident Fellow affiliated with the Southeast Asia Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center. He is currently developing the new Southeast Asia Resource Center at Stimson, a project to promote and sustain the study of Southeast Asia at colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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