President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. arrived in Berlin, Germany where he will sit down for a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, March 12, 2024. | PHOTO: Official facebook page of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)
BERLIN, Germany – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday sought to expand defense cooperation between the Philippines and Germany “beyond training and into new areas” such as maritime and cyber domains.
In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Marcos said he was pleased with Germany’s increased interest in enhancing maritime cooperation and welcomed “more initiatives to enrich this partnership.”
The President arrived at The Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt) at around 11:30 am Tuesday (6:30 p.m. Manila time) where he was welcomed by Scholz and accorded arrival honors.
The two leaders had a tete-a-tete and working lunch before addressing members of the Philippine and German media here.
In his remarks to the press, the President cited Germany’s generosity in providing training for the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 1974, when the two nations signed a deal on defense cooperation.
“I expressed the Philippine government’s openness to discussions on cooperation that goes beyond training and into new areas such as cyber and maritime domains,” Marcos said.
READ: Marcos arrives in Berlin for 2-day working visit
He also thanked Germany for its continuous support for the capacity-building of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Prior to Marcos’ arrival in Germany, transport agencies of the Philippines and Germany signed a joint declaration on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector to facilitate maritime trade.
“I am heartened by Germany’s increased interest in enhancing maritime cooperation between our countries, and I welcome more initiatives to enrich this partnership,” the Chief Executive said.
He is the first Philippine President to visit Berlin in 10 years. The last to do so was then President Benigno Aquino III in September 2014.