Trump in PH next month for Asean summit–Palace
US President Donald Trump is attending the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Manila next month, but it’s uncertain if the controversial Pax Silica deal will be signed during his visit.
Palace press officer Claire Castro on Wednesday confirmed Trump’s attendance at the biannual gathering of the regional bloc but declined to divulge details on the US leader’s itinerary in Manila for lack of authority to speak for him.
At the 49th Asean Summit and Related Meetings, on Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, Southeast Asian leaders and global dialogue partners will tackle regional security, economic integration, and cooperation.
One of the most anticipated developments during Trump’s visit is whether Manila and Washington will formally sign the framework agreement for the controversial Pax Silica initiative.
Pax Silica is a US-led coalition that seeks to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy and logistics.
The Philippines has designated a 1,620-hectare site in New Clark City in Capas town, Tarlac province, as the proposed location of an AI and advanced manufacturing hub under the initiative, which is part of the broader Luzon Economic Corridor.
It has drawn flak and raised concerns over its potential huge demand for water and electricity, risks to the environment, land use, foreign dependence and transparency. These are on top of the possible displacement of farmers and Aeta communities in Tarlac.
Pax Silica talks
As Asean chair for this year, Mr. Marcos earlier said that he had helped craft the roadmap for the regional bloc on AI.
On Tuesday, Castro confirmed that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) had submitted to the President the legal framework of Pax Silica.
“As BCDA and its US development partner continue to discuss the details of the partnership agreement, the expected signing of the agreement is before the end of 2026,” she said, quoting the government-owned and controlled corporation that is in charge of converting former military bases into economic hubs.
First lady hosting Melania
With Trump’s confirmed attendance, US First Lady Melania Trump will most likely make her first trip to Manila to join First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and other first spouses for a meeting of Fostering the Future Together, a global coalition which Melania launched to expand children’s access to technology and education. Araneta-Marcos will host the event, which will run parallel to the Asean conference.
Trump attended the Asean summit in Manila in 2017 on the watch of then President Rodrigo Duterte, his last official visit to the country.
In 2025, Trump also attended the 47th Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in in Gyeongju, South Korea, in a bid to maintain US influence in Asia.
Putin, Xi yet to confirm
“[Trump’s] goal this year is to demonstrate America’s commitment to its allies in Southeast Asia and advance US economic and national security objectives,” according to a White House official quoted by The New Yorker in its report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have yet to confirm their participation in the summit.
Mr. Marcos had been hoping that Xi would visit Manila in November, when the negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea are set to be finalized, seen as a crucial step to preventing escalation of disputes in the international waterway.
Trump has attempted to broker peace between Manila, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, and Beijing. During a phone call in July, Trump told Mr. Marcos that he would raise Philippine concerns with Xi, specifically the growing confrontations between Filipino and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
Mr. Marcos declared the three days of the summit as special nonworking days to ease traffic congestion and ensure the safety of attending leaders.
Authorities have ramped up security preparations in view of possible protests over the Pax Silica initiative.
After the summit, Mr. Marcos, Trump and other leaders will then fly to Shenzhen, China, for the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.
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