ᜊᜌᜈ᜔ 🇵🇭

Some of my Filipino friends have contacted me offering condolences over the election results. But worst, they are anxious over the state of Fil-Am relationships, especially about our common defense against Chinese aggression. The historical analogue I can offer is the 1975 elections that also brought in a radical Democrat Congress. Nixon had earlier wound down the Vietnam War and had removed American troops but left the South Vietnamese capable of standing against the Communists from the North, given continued American material support including air cover. With the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s subsequent resignation, the radicals in Congress cut off ALL support to the South – no guns, no bullets, no air cover, no money. Nixon’s successor, Ford, was in a very weak position, wholly inadequate in strength to buck Congress. Without American support the Communists quickly overran the South resulting in a Communist takeover. Today is similar but different. Trump had been elected (Ford was appointed) and has two full years to go. His initiatives as Commander-in-Chief to resist Communist aggression remain in place and won’t easily be blunted by this Congress. Trump knows how to play the budget game so expect a continued healthy defense budget. He has already signaled that he will fully engage his veto power. His powers on tariffs are unabated. Expect a continued solid support for the Philippines even if Trump’s most expansive plans will be tempered. Psx Silica will remain active. Also expect vigorous lawfare on both sides. Already observers are seeing odd electoral behaviors in the results. Essentially, Washington will largely stay the course re the Philippines and the First Island Chain. Then comes the 2028 election. Rubio is on-deck as the next Republican candidate and the Democrat bench looks very weak in comparison. Congress will regress to the mean as it always does. As an American conservative and permanent resident of the Philippines, I don’t see a lot of cause for worry. Disappointment yes, but not high anxiety.