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Foreign policy intact; PH 'friend to all, enemy to none' - Marcos

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
July 28, 2025, 6:45 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine government continues to chart its "friend to all, enemy to none" foreign policy, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said while assuring the public that the country is resolute in protecting Filipino interest both within its territory and abroad.

"Then as now, our foreign policy remains the same —the Philippines is a friend to all. The Philippines is an enemy to none," he said in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Under this policy, Marcos said the government continues to show that the Philippines is a country that is transparent and adheres to the international law.

"Ngayon, masasabi natin na mataas ang tingin ng buong mundo sa Pilipinas dahil maayos, patas, at mahinahon tayong nakikitungo sa iba't ibang mga bansa, tumutupad din tayo sa ating mga kasunduan, at sa mga batas at panuntunan ng pandaigdigang komunidad (Now, we can say that the world regards the Philippines highly because we deal with countries in a proper, fair, and calm manner, we also abide by our agreements, and the laws of the international community)," he said.

At the same time, Marcos said Manila is unwavering in the protection of its rights and is improving its capabilities to defend itself in the face of threats to its sovereignty --an apparent allusion to the situation on the South China Sea, where several states, including the Philippines and China are locked in a maritime dispute.

"Sa harap ng mga bagong banta sa ating kapayapaan at soberanya, mas maigting ngayon ang ating paghahanda, pagmamatyag, at pagtatanggol sa ating sarili (In the face of new threats to our peace and sovereignty, we are improving our readiness and self-defense)," he said.

"Gayumpaman, tayo pa rin ay nagtitimpi at nananatiling pagpapasensya, lalo na sa pagtanod sa ating buong kapuluan at sa pangangalaga sa ating interes (Despite this, we continue to exercise restraint and remain patient. We are looking after our entire archipelago and protecting our interests)."

In addition, the President said the Philippines is leveraging its partnerships with countries to boost its position.

"[N]gayon, mas mataas pa ang ating kumpiyansa dahil mas marami na tayong mga kasangga na magiging kabalikat natin sa oras ng matinding pangangailangan ([N]ow, we are more confident that we have partners to aid us in times of great need)," he said.

Under the Marcos administration, the Philippine government had been doubling efforts to deepen its security relations with more like-minded states.

More tangibly, Marcos signed two laws— the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act— effectively reinforcing the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the West Philippines Sea.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act had explicitly defined the extent of Philippines' internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf that are fully in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. (PNA)