MANILA, Philippines – Muling pinagtibay ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang commitment ng Pilipinas na mas palalimin pa ang ugnayan sa Australia, Israel, Maldives, at Nepal.
Ito’y matapos na pormal na tanggapin ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga credential ng kanilang mga bagong ambassador sa idinaos na seremonya sa Malacañang nitong Martes.
Ang mga ambassador na nagpresenta ng kanilang credential ay sina Marc Innés-Brown (Australia), Dana Kursh (Israel), Dr. Mariyam Shabeena Ahmed (Maldives), at Netra Prasad Timsina (Nepal).
Ibinahagi naman ng Presidential Communications Office (PCO) sa official Facebook page nito ang ilang larawan mula sa nasabing ceremonial presentation of credentials.
“In his meeting with Marcos, Innés-Brown said Australia considers the Philippines one of its important strategic partners, citing efforts to improve bilateral ties and strengthen collaboration in key areas,” ayon sa kalatas na inilathala sa Facebook page ng state-run Radio Television Malacañang.
“Among the efforts he highlights is the ongoing exercise on Amphibious and Land Operations (ALON), a two-week multinational exercise scheduled to run through August 29 in Palawan and Luzon. It involves more than 3,700 military personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the United States Marine Corps’ Marine Rotational Force–Darwin, and the Royal Canadian Navy,” dagdag pa rito.
“Furthermore, he outlines key messages from Canberra: first, the priority of advancing the Strategic Partnership; second, the goal to strengthen the bilateral relationship; and third, amid shared geostrategic challenges, Australia intends to continue cooperating with and supporting the Philippines where possible,” nakasaad pa rin sa kalatas.
Si Innés-Brown, isang seasoned diplomat, ay nagsilbi noon bilang lead envoy sa Türkiye, Iran at Iraq, at humawak ng posisyon sa Thailand at Estados Unidos.
Itinatag ng Pilipinas at Australia ang pormal na diplomatic relations noong 1946, na itinuturing bilang isa sa longest-standing bilateral partnerships ng bansa.
Noong 2023, itinaas ang diplomatic ties ng Pilipinas at Australia mula sa isang comprehensive partnership patungo sa strategic partnership, na nagbigay-daan sa mas malawak na pagtutulungan sa larangan ng maritime security, counterterrorism, at defense policy.
Ipagdiriwang ng dalawang bansa ang ika-80 anibersaryo ng bilateral relations sa 2026.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Kursh ang special bond ng Pilipinas at Israel, na nagsimula noong dekada 1930 nang ipatupad ni President Manuel L. Quezon ang “Open Doors Policy,” kung saan nag-alok ng kanlungan sa Maynila sa 1,300 Jews na tumakas mula sa pag-uusig.
Tiniyak din niya kay Pangulong Marcos ang suporta ng Israel upang makamit ang pananaw ng administrasyon na “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines), at naghayag ng interes na palakasin ang kolaborasyon sa iba’t ibang larangan gaya ng agrikultura, water solutions, defense, technology innovation, health, cybersecurity, tourism, at disaster management.
Pormal na naitatag ang diplomatic relations ng Pilipinas at Israel noong Agosto 9, 1957, bagaman kinilala na ng Pilipinas ang State of Israel simula pa noong Agosto 14, 1948.
“Marcos likewise expressed optimism about the Philippines’ stronger ties with Nepal and the Maldives under the leadership of the new non-resident ambassadors,” ayon sa PCO.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally accepted the credentials of H.E. Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina, Non-Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Government of Nepal, emphasizing the strong ties between the Philippines and Nepal,” dagdag pa nito.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received the credentials of H.E. Dr. Mariyam Shabeena Ahmed, Non-Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Maldives, highlighting the Philippines’ commitment to deepen its relations with the Maldives,” ayon pa rin sa PCO. Kris Jose
