LAST July 30, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III dropped by Manila for the Philippines-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue, the fourth such talks since it began in 2012. This is unprecedented because it's the first time that talks have been held in Manila. Indeed, the PH-US 2+2 dialogue has set the stage for continued and expanded military cooperation, reflecting a strengthened military and defense alliance between the two sides. Before visiting Manila, the two US officials also held talks in Tokyo with their counterpart top Japanese defense and diplomatic officials on July 28 to bolster military and defense cooperation.
Obviously, the US-Philippine 2+2 dialogue and the US-Japanese meetings are intended to strengthen US alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. These are significant steps by the US in bolstering military and diplomatic ties. This is part of the broader US counterbalance and containment strategy against China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This agenda underscores the intricate and often unstated geopolitical maneuvering that shapes the current dynamics in the region and aligns with US paranoia while grappling with the reality that it's losing its hegemony in the region.
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