Marcos Talks Russia, Fuel & Fertilizer – Plus Some Diplomacy Drama
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came out of the Manila Overseas Press Club on Wednesday, October 5, and let us in on a slightly “non‑Western” plan. The man is juggling the roles of President, agriculture minister, and—not least—your friendly neighborhood diplomat.
He said the country might have to lean on Russia for its fuel and fertiliser supplies. “We’re looking at a balanced approach,” Marcos joked, “because truth be told, we might have to deal with Moscow for both oil and the stuff that gets our rice plants growing.”
The backdrop is the global inflation roller‑coaster fueled by supply woes that got a free‑parking ticket from Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Inflation is on a steep climb, and our supply chains are doing the tango,” Marcos added.
Peace‑Making Ambitions
Beyond oil and hay, Marcos wants the Philippines to lead the charge for regional peace. He pointed out the skullduggery from North Korea and the China‑Taiwan spat:
- Met with a sigh: “We want to be the summer camp counselors for peace.”
- Wontion (the newly coined phrase) for “peace‑making camaraderie” in Asia.
Myanmar’s Chess‑Game
Marcos announced he’ll’ hit the big-ticket item for the next ASEAN meeting in November: the Myanmar crisis. He’s proposing a fresh approach that could actually talk to the military junta. “Let’s bring the generals on the table and start a conversation. That’s the best way to keep the puzzle pieces from falling apart,” he said.
Myanmar’s ruling junta has been “shushing” ASEAN summits since it failed to deliver on a five‑point peace plan agreed in April 2021. The military is angry and says it will comply “as long as it doesn’t have to negotiate with units the junta calls ‘terrorists’.”
- Marcos promises a “concrete proposal” to bring a military representative to the table.
- He says it’s time to actually delve into dialogue, not just talk in the air.
Meanwhile, Cambodia – currently the chair of ASEAN – confirmed that a request was sent to the State Administrative Council (SAC) to nominate a non‑political figure to represent Myanmar at upcoming leaders’ summits. “Again, the SAC refuses to send anyone,” the foreign spokesperson Chum Sounry said. Generic politeness meets real‑world politics.
In short, Marcos told reporters that the Philippines will stay merry‑minded while navigating global oil prices, fertiliser shortages, and East‑Asian trouble. This balance of humor and seriousness keeps his nation at a steady pace amid chaos.
