Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday hosted Philippine top diplomat Maria Theresa Lazaro to discuss efforts to advance peace in the South China Sea.

According to Anadolu Agency, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro to address a range of bilateral economic and security priorities. These discussions included the Philippines' ASEAN chair year and efforts to advance peace and security in the South China Sea, as stated by the US State Department. ASEAN refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a bloc of 11 member states chaired by the Philippines for the year 2026.

The statement highlighted that Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the US commitment to developing the Luzon Economic Corridor and exploring ways to address energy challenges in the region. This corridor is a trilateral initiative involving the US, Japan, and the Philippines.

During the meeting, Rubio emphasized the strength of the United States-Philippines Alliance, noting continued close cooperation as the two countries commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years as allies in 2026. The Philippines is one of the oldest military allies of the US in the wider Asia-Pacific region, with a mutual defense agreement.

Lazaro described the meeting as "productive," and shared on US social media platform X that discussions centered on strategic partnerships across multiple fronts. She highlighted the focus on strengthening economic diplomacy, reaffirming strong maritime cooperation, and a shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability, while emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions.