
After one of the most consequential national elections in the country’s history, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is set to become the 17th president of the Philippines through a majority vote. Thirty-six years after being forced into exile in the United States, his family’s return to power holds significant implications for the country’s foreign policy. The presidency of Bongbong Marcos is expected to face complex and multifaceted challenges brought by heightened geopolitical risks and power shifts in the region. His call for “unity,” conveyed throughout the campaign period, will also be tested against circumstances on the ground, especially on critical issues such as the territorial and maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea. Read More