by Manuel "Poks" Divina
Almost a week now had passed since the world came to the realization that the United States will have Sen Barack Obama as its President. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is one of the first to extend, on behalf of the Philippines, her warm congratulations to the President-elect. It is almost a week since her phone call, and the President-elect has yet to return her call.
The President-elect has already returned calls from other foreign leaders. First round of calls were made to leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Israel and South Korea. The second wave was to leaders of Russia, China, Poland and China. The most awaited phone call to President Arroyo was pushed back to the now long waiting list.
Observers thought that Obama staff might have forgotten to inform the President-elect of the call from the leader of the Philippines, the country once dubbed a “major non-NATO” ally by outgoing President George Bush. Some joked that the staff wo received the call probably isn't aware of the country called the Philippines.
Some call this a snub. Others are patient. This to others, as trivial as it may appear, somehow foreshadows the future foreign policy of the incoming administration—a shouting disregard to the importance of the Philippines. It also note worthy that during the President Arroyo’s visit to the U.S., the then Democratic Presidential Nominee Sen Obama cancelled his meeting with her. The other guy, the Republican Presidential Nominee Sen John McCain took the time off campaigning and met President Arroyo.
This far-from-warm treatment somehow gives credence to the charge that the President-elect has a thin grasp of foreign policy issues and consideration. The President-elect seems to be not well informed about the significance of the Philippines to the U.S. foreign policy especially now that its Cold War adversary, Russia, is now regaining its glory and gearing up to become another superpower. It is too much to say that President-elect is ignorant of the history of Philippine-American relationship, but this appears to be the case. This is not far from reality since the good Senator is just in his 4th year as Senator—2 years was spent campaigning.
The President-elect did not serve in the military during the Vietnam War (he is 2 years old then), where the Philippines proved to be a reliable U.S. ally—when others turned their back from the U.S., the Philippines remained committed, so it is impossible for him to have a firsthand look on the importance of the Philippines. His opponent, Senator John McCain on the other hand was a Navy Pilot during the war and served alongside with Filipinos.
A cold treatment from the U.S. is not our loss both in the field of security and economy. The Philippines is no longer as dependent to mercy of the United States as was before. Our country has at long last managed to establish an independent foreign policy proven by previous actions taken by our government. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo successfully strengthened ties with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, and major Asian economic power house such as China, Japan and India. The health of our economy is no longer dictated by the pulse of the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy is on the path of collapse. The Philippines appears not destined to follow its path.
President-elect Barack Obama hopefully should realize this. If his foreign policy judgment still cannot grasp this, he should seek the advice of his Vice President, Joseph Biden who is a foreign policy expert. The U.S. cannot afford to lose the affection of the Philippines now that many countries are starting to realize that the U.S. is not invincible.
The President-elect has already returned calls from other foreign leaders. First round of calls were made to leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Israel and South Korea. The second wave was to leaders of Russia, China, Poland and China. The most awaited phone call to President Arroyo was pushed back to the now long waiting list.
Observers thought that Obama staff might have forgotten to inform the President-elect of the call from the leader of the Philippines, the country once dubbed a “major non-NATO” ally by outgoing President George Bush. Some joked that the staff wo received the call probably isn't aware of the country called the Philippines.
Some call this a snub. Others are patient. This to others, as trivial as it may appear, somehow foreshadows the future foreign policy of the incoming administration—a shouting disregard to the importance of the Philippines. It also note worthy that during the President Arroyo’s visit to the U.S., the then Democratic Presidential Nominee Sen Obama cancelled his meeting with her. The other guy, the Republican Presidential Nominee Sen John McCain took the time off campaigning and met President Arroyo.
This far-from-warm treatment somehow gives credence to the charge that the President-elect has a thin grasp of foreign policy issues and consideration. The President-elect seems to be not well informed about the significance of the Philippines to the U.S. foreign policy especially now that its Cold War adversary, Russia, is now regaining its glory and gearing up to become another superpower. It is too much to say that President-elect is ignorant of the history of Philippine-American relationship, but this appears to be the case. This is not far from reality since the good Senator is just in his 4th year as Senator—2 years was spent campaigning.
The President-elect did not serve in the military during the Vietnam War (he is 2 years old then), where the Philippines proved to be a reliable U.S. ally—when others turned their back from the U.S., the Philippines remained committed, so it is impossible for him to have a firsthand look on the importance of the Philippines. His opponent, Senator John McCain on the other hand was a Navy Pilot during the war and served alongside with Filipinos.
A cold treatment from the U.S. is not our loss both in the field of security and economy. The Philippines is no longer as dependent to mercy of the United States as was before. Our country has at long last managed to establish an independent foreign policy proven by previous actions taken by our government. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo successfully strengthened ties with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, and major Asian economic power house such as China, Japan and India. The health of our economy is no longer dictated by the pulse of the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy is on the path of collapse. The Philippines appears not destined to follow its path.
President-elect Barack Obama hopefully should realize this. If his foreign policy judgment still cannot grasp this, he should seek the advice of his Vice President, Joseph Biden who is a foreign policy expert. The U.S. cannot afford to lose the affection of the Philippines now that many countries are starting to realize that the U.S. is not invincible.
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