All eyes of key defense stakeholders around the world would be on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Friday night, when he delivers a significant message for the 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The first Philippine president to deliver a keynote message for Asia’s premier defense forum, the Chief Executive is expected to make the historic address at 8pm before a global audience.
This year’s edition of IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is going to be participated by more than 550 delegates from the defense and security establishments of more than 40 nations around the world.
Founded in 1958, IISS is the leading global authority on geopolitics and strategy, producing analysis and exerting influence on matters of war, power and rules for governments, the private sector and the expert community worldwide.
Maintaining offices in Bahrain, Berlin, London, Singapore and Washington D.C., IISS is widely known around the world for its authoritative research, influential publications and products.
Previous keynote speakers have included Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
President Marcos vowed to articulate in his message the legal and geopolitical position of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as he cited the importance of the waterway to global trade and economy.
In a media interview in Brunei Darussalam prior to departing for Singapore, the President said his keynote address to the defense meeting on Friday is highly important, saying the “invitation in itself is highly significant.”
“The fact that they asked the Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense that it is a recognition that there are challenges that are facing the Philippines, specifically,” President Marcos told reporters.
The defense gathering is putting together defense ministers, military leaders and senior defense officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, from across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond to discuss critical security challenges. PND
