Marcos Jr. set to visit Germany in March

CEBU, Philippines — President Marcos will visit Germany in March, months before the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany.

Marcos disclosed his plan to visit the European country during the courtesy call of German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock yesterday at Malacañang.

“We have been in contact with one another over the past few months simply because we have been trying to arrange a visit to Germany. And I think we have finally managed, with your embassy’s staff, we’ve been driving them a little crazy. We keep moving things because things have been coming up,” the President told the German official.

“But I think we have come down on March 12th, the March 12 date. So I can commit to that now,” he said.

Baerbock noted that it has been 10 years since a Philippine leader visited Germany. The last Filipino chief
 executive to visit the European nation was the late Benigno Aquino III.

“I’m sure that, after the visit to Berlin, many things will develop. We will be requiring your presence here more and more,” Marcos said.

Marcos has had 19 foreign trips since assuming office last year, the latest of which was his visit to Japan last month. Critics have accused the President of traveling excessively but officials claim his overseas trips allow him to encourage investors to come to the Philippines.

Last month, the trade department said Marcos’ overseas trips resulted in the creation of more than 200,000 job opportunities and P294 billion worth of actualized investments.

Marcos thanked Baerbock for finding time to visit the Philippines, ahead of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Philippines and Germany established their diplomatic ties on Oct. 8, 1954.

Baerbock’s visit is part of her official travel to Southeast Asia and the Middle East and is also the first to the Philippines by a German foreign minister in more than a decade.