US President Donald Trump’s confirmed attendance at the ASEAN Summit in Manila on November 16, 2026, anchors trader expectations for a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before year-end. The Philippine Palace and White House statements in mid-October verified the visit, with Marcos hosting the event as ASEAN chair and both leaders scheduled to proceed afterward to the APEC summit in China. Prior in-person contact occurred at the White House in July 2025, followed by a July 2026 phone discussion on trade, defense, and South China Sea issues. With roughly ten weeks remaining until December 31, 2026, the scheduled multilateral gathering provides a firm diplomatic window for bilateral engagement on alliance matters.