(The author's prepared remarks at the Rotary Club of Manila on Dec. 5, 2024.)

I'VE been asked to speak to you today about the role of the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Philippines in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. That phrase, known as VUCA, certainly characterizes the world we live in, including here in Southeast Asia, where we see state actors undermining international rules and norms, the continued threat of violent extremism, and the unpredictable and increasingly damaging effects of climate change.