Together in progress, together in friendship
After four years in the Philippines as ambassador, I have picked up a lot of gems in the Philippine culture and language that I have come to cherish. One of them is the Filipino word for “together,” which is “sama-sama,” because not only does it sound like our Dutch word “samen,” but it also shares the same meaning. And these words perfectly reflect our 75 years of friendship thus far. The resemblance of words is coincidental, as our languages couldn’t be more different from each other. They are shaped by different histories on opposite sides of the world. And yet by chance, we understand the same concept through our spoken words, and we share the same value of being able to rely on someone else, of knowing that we are not alone.
Seventy-five years ago, on May 17, our two countries formally established diplomatic ties. Years have tested us as geopolitical shifts, climate change vulnerabilities, and changing political landscapes have brought challenges in how we navigate matters that affect not only us, but the whole world. And yet, most often we find ourselves on the same side, despite differences in approaches and appreciation. Openness to dialogue, high regard for diplomacy, and a shared commitment to uphold the United Nations Charter and international rule of law have made us good partners.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen had the chance to mark our anniversary earlier this week, on the first official visit of a Filipino foreign secretary to the Netherlands in 33 years. Our ministers underscored the importance of maintaining stable, open, and reliable global energy supply chains and maritime trade routes and freedom of navigation. Both seafaring nations, they also committed to the continuing protection and well-being of our seafarers, who are crucial for our peoples and economies.
True to this character, the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) chairship this year calls on the region to navigate the future together. The Netherlands answers that call, as a development partner of Asean, as a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and as a country that has staked real diplomatic and economic capital on the belief that the Indo-Pacific’s future is also our shared responsibility as a guardian of the rule of law and international legal order. Not only does the Netherlands host many international courts and organizations, but we also have a long history of laying down the foundation of international law. Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius, who many consider the father of international law, wrote “Mare Liberum,” in which he argues that the seas are open to all and belong to none.
In this special week for our relations, a Royal Netherlands Navy frigate, the HNLMS De Ruyter, will make a port call in Manila, amidst its five-month Indo-Pacific mission to strengthen ties with like-minded nations across the region. This visit underscores the importance that the Netherlands attaches to the region, which has become the global economic powerhouse with about one-third of the world’s merchant fleet passing through the South China Sea. As laid down in our Indo-Pacific Strategy, stability and security in the region are essential for international trade and global development and prosperity, given the strategic interconnection between different parts of the world.
A picture of our bilateral partnership is not complete without a focus on the economic dimension. The Netherlands has been one of the Philippines’ top sources of foreign investment from the European Union for 12 consecutive years. More than 120 Dutch companies operate here, across sectors of semiconductors, water management, agriculture, and financial services. Dutch technology is embedded in 85 percent of globally manufactured chips, while the Philippines serves as a critical hub for testing and packaging. ING Bank employs some 6,000 people here in its business processing office. East-West Seeds has transformed smallholder agriculture across the country for decades. Coming from a low-lying country, our engineering companies have a lot of knowledge to share on how to effectively prevent flooding. And around 40 percent of the seafarers aboard Dutch-flagged vessels are Filipino, playing a critical role. The EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement, currently under negotiation, will give all of this a more durable and ambitious framework, anchored in shared standards and mutual accountability.
Seventy-five years have tested our friendship across changing circumstances. As proud as I am of trade figures, agreements signed, and high-level visits made, I most cherish the endurability of Dutch-Filipino relations. The presence of HNMLS De Ruyter in Manila’s port this week should be seen not merely as a maritime presence but as a symbol of diplomacy and friendship, and a stronger Netherlands-Philippines partnership for generations to come. Sama-sama, samen. Together.
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Marielle Geraedts is ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines.
