Marcos to address UN, push for Security Council seat
President Marcos will call for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict before the United Nations, where he is also expected to pursue the Philippines’ bid for a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The President, accompanied by first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and selected members of his Cabinet, arrived in New York on Monday (Manila time) for a two-day working visit in the United States.
Mr. Marcos said he would “share the aspirations of the Filipino people for peace and solidarity.”
“I will call for restraint, dialogue, and respect for international law,” he said. “As I speak now, various armed conflicts across the globe are unfolding, and climate-related crises grow greater, and I cannot help but think that this is precisely the time where our brand of principled, consensus-building leadership is needed in the world.”
Resolving conflict ‘important’
Mr. Marcos is also expected to meet with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“Push for the peaceful settlement of the conflict that’s going on. For us, most especially the Philippines, it’s very important for this conflict to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez said.
“Number one, obviously our economy, and secondly… is our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East, the fourth largest of overseas workers in that area and that is a major concern for us,” Romualdez also said, referring to the estimated 2.5 million OFWs in that region.
The Philippines imports about 90 percent of its crude oil supply from the Middle East. The government cannot put a cap on fuel prices due to the oil deregulation law passed in 1998.
‘Voice’ for PH
Also in the agenda of the working visit is the Philippines’ bid for a nonpermanent seat in the UNSC for the period of 2027-2028.
“This candidature is about shared responsibility. It is about ensuring that the voice of the Philippines—and of developing countries—is heard at the highest forum of global peace and security,’’ Mr. Marcos said.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said a seat in the council would give the country a voice to help shape global agendas and aspirations.
Council election
“It would also provide an opportunity for the country to take part in offering suggestions in decisions concerning international peace and security,” she told reporters in New York.
The UNSC is primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, with all member states of the UN obligated to comply with the council’s decisions.
It has 15 members, five of them permanent members with veto powers—Britain, France, Russia, the United States, and China.
The UNSC election will be held on Sept. 9 during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. The Philippines is competing against Kyrgyzstan for the lone nonpermanent seat representing the Asia-Pacific Group.
The Philippines was previously elected as a nonpermanent member of the council in 1957, 1963, 1980-1981, and 2004-2005.
