President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has assured that the Philippines will continue to have strong relations with the United States (US) under his leadership.

Marcos made the commitment when he received the credentials of MaryKay Loss Carlson, US Ambassador to the Philippines, at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Friday.

“To echo your commitment that the United States is committed to the Philippines, the Philippines is also committed to the United States, committed to the continuing relationship between our two countries in the many dimensions and the multi-faceted nature of our relationship between the US and the Philippines,” Marcos told Carlson.

Marcos said the traditional ties between the Philippines and the US continue to be “deep and enduring.”

The Philippines and the US established formal diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946, the day when the Philippines gained its status as an independent and sovereign state.

The two countries have expanded and deepened bilateral cooperation in many fields, including defense and security, trade and commerce, and culture and education.

Marcos said the US will stay as the Philippines’ “friend, partner, and an ally”.

“In the face of a very volatile global political and economic situation, it is this from the ties that we have with our friends and perhaps, the longest of those, the United States of America, we depend on those ties to keep the stability of not only our country but also the region and for that matter, the world,” he said.

US President Joe Biden earlier invited Marcos to visit the US.

Marcos was given the assurance that he will have “full diplomatic immunity” as head of state, despite a long-standing contempt order that had prevented him from entering the US.

On July 1, Marcos vowed to further boost the Philippines’ relations with its allied countries, including the US, by “exploring areas of mutual interest”. (PNA)