New US Ambassador to PH Lee Lipton set to begin post in mid-June

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Incoming US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton is set to begin his new post in mid-June following his Senate confirmation as the top US envoy to the country.

Before leaving for Manila, Lipton this week met with Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez to discuss the “longstanding and enduring alliance” between the two countries, the Philippine Embassy said in a press release.

Lipton and Romualdez discussed opportunities to further strengthen bilateral economic engagement, security cooperation, people-to-people ties and regional collaboration. 

Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

This year, the US and the Philippines are commemorating 80 years of diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty.

“Both officials also underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in emerging strategic sectors such as in the processing of critical minerals, energy cooperation, advanced manufacturing, and resilient supply chains,” the Embassy said.

They also covered regional and global developments, including the Philippines’ leadership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council this coming June, the Embassy added.

Ambassador Romualdez told Inquirer USA that Lipton will begin his term in mid-June.

Romualdez said he is confident that the Philippine-US relations will continue to thrive, with the “shared commitment to advancing the interests of both countries and peoples.”

Senate confirms Ambassador Lee Lipton

The US Senate recently confirmed Lipton as the next ambassador to the Philippines, approving his nomination in a narrow 46-43 vote.

President Donald Trump appointed Lipton to the diplomatic post on Oct. 8 last year. Lipton was then serving as interim permanent representative to the United States Mission to the Organization of American States.

In this position, Lipton managed staff operations, financial resources and interagency coordination to advance US foreign policy priorities in the Western Hemisphere, according to the US State Department website.

“In this role, he supports US engagement on a range of regional challenges, including the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, and efforts to counter malign influence—particularly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—within the Inter-American System,” the website states.

Lipton replaced MaryKay Carlson, who had served as ambassador since 2022. (With Bing Cardenas Branigin)

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