The Philippines is set to enhance its diplomatic presence by opening four new foreign missions in North America and the Asia Pacific in 2025. This announcement was made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a diplomatic event at Malacanang Palace on January 12, 2025. The initiative is part of the country's strategy to broaden its diplomatic reach and strengthen international partnerships, aligning with an independent foreign policy [608cf015]. This move follows the opening of four embassies in Europe and Latin America in 2024, which brought the total number of Philippine foreign service posts to 102. Marcos emphasized the importance of peace and cooperation as central tenets of the Philippines' foreign policy [608cf015].
In the broader context of Pacific diplomacy, the United States is also actively engaging with the region through initiatives like the '7 for 70 Campaign,' aimed at establishing sister city partnerships to foster people-to-people connections. A notable event occurred on June 7, 2024, when Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a sister city agreement, reflecting a commitment to strengthen ties amid increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific [4ebf1d3c]. Japan, too, is enhancing its relations with Pacific Island countries through the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM), which will hold its tenth iteration in 2025. This meeting is expected to focus on cooperation regarding Japan's ALPS-treated water discharge plan and other regional challenges [1b19a9c0].