Romualdez pointed to a US$2.5 billion invoice for Philippines defence at the moment earlier than the US Congress, saying there was sturdy bipartisan help for the laws.
The veteran diplomat additionally floated the potential for shopping for liquid pure gasoline from america, saying it had come up in discussions with Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan.
“Lots of our vitality necessities might probably use LNG in its place supply of vitality. In order that’s one of many many issues we’re attempting to place collectively as a part of our give-and-take, if you wish to name it that,” he mentioned.
Requested how fractious relations between the United States and its European allies over Russia’s war in Ukraine may have an effect on the Philippines, Romualdez mentioned the West was nonetheless on the identical web page when it got here to the South China Sea.
“What is occurring within the European theatre is totally different from what is occurring right here,” he mentioned. “The curiosity of different nations in our a part of the world stays the identical,” he mentioned.
“Trillions of {dollars} move by means of the South China Sea and it is clear that we do not need anyone nation to dominate the realm.”