Before exiting White House, Biden to virtually meet with Japanese, Filipino leaders

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Outgoing US President Joe Biden is set to hold a virtual meeting with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines, according to the White House on Wednesday.

The agenda of the trilateral meeting is yet to be known.

The expected meeting comes ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of the US President-elect Donald Trump, when Biden leaves the White House.

During his four years of presidency, Biden had strengthened ties with Japan and the Philippines, which is the oldest ally of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, in an apparent counter to China’s expanding influence in the region.

Japan hosts more than 50,000 American troops while the US army has access to Filipino military bases on the Southeast Asian archipelago nation.

The three leaders held a joint summit in the US last year where they discussed security cooperation, infrastructure development, and regional economic resilience.

Manila and Tokyo have also boosted bilateral ties for the past few years.