President Donald Trump plans to host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. The visit Tuesday highlights efforts to strengthen security and economic ties between the two countries as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific.

President Donald Trump hosts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday at the White House, seeking closer security and economic ties at a time when China is increasingly assertive in the Indo-Pacific region.

Under a 2014 deal, called the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, the U.S. military has access to Philippine bases and sites for joint training and for facilities such as runways, fuel storage and troop housing. The agreement was expanded in 2023 to allow the United States access to nine locations, up from five before.