Philippine envoy Lazaro caps visit to Netherlands with stronger ties, maritime security
THE HAGUE — Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s official visit to the Netherlands yielded a joint statement with her counterpart and a host of commitments to boost not only economic partnerships but also safety and security.
Lazaro’s trip, from May 17-19, 2026, was part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands. It was also the first official visit of a Philippine foreign affairs secretary to the Netherlands in 33 years. The last was DFA secretary Roberto Romulo in June 1993.
Joint statement
After meeting her counterpart Tom Berendsen on Monday, May 18, the two ministers issued a joint statement committing to the regular conduct of high-level political and economic exchanges through bilateral consultations and meetings of coordinating authorities on economic and technological cooperation.
Their statement also included strengthening cooperation in maritime security, combating transnational crimes, trade and investment; sustainability and climate action, environment, connectivity, academic cooperation, and people-to-people linkages.
They also emphasised the need to deepen economic relations, pledging to work together particularly in the areas of water management, semiconductor, smart agriculture, and renewable energy. The two sides will also cooperate in strengthening supply-chain resilience such as exploring initiatives on critical raw materials aimed at diversification and value addition.
(The joint statement can be viewed here https://bit.ly/4nLHWsX.)
Windmills and Balangays
The DFA secretary also served as a keynote speaker in a forum organised by the Dutch think-tank Clingendael Institute and the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands, attended by representatives from the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) diplomats and various experts.
Clingendael’s Head of Unit for EU and Global Affairs Louise van Schaik, Annemarie van der Heijden, Head of South Asia and Southeast Asia Division, and Sunita Verlinde, Strategic Policy Adviser for Indo-Pacific served as panelists, while Martijn Pluim, Director of the Clingendael Academy, moderated the forum.
Sec. Lazaro discussed the Philippines’ position as chair of ASEAN this year and as strategic partner of the Netherlands and the European Union (EU).
In her talk entitled “Navigating Turbulence: Windmills, Balangays and the Architecture of Peace”, Lazaro used the allegories of two important historical elements in the Netherlands and the Philippines.
She said, the windmills do not fight the wind but rather harness it for energy, while just like the balangays, the traditional boat used by Filipino ancestors, did not fight storms but rather navigated the treacherous seas. In an allegorical sense, she said steering peace is necessary like harnessing the wind and taming dangerous waters, especially as the world is under pressure, countries retreating into isolation, resurgence of unilateralism and weaponizing economic ties.
Both the ASEAN and EU, she noted, were born from the ashes of conflict, united by the conviction that “might does not make right.” She added that relations between the Netherlands and Philippines still have a lot of space to expand.
Arbitration ruling of 2016
She expressed appreciation to the Netherlands for its continued support on maritime issues and recalled the July 16, 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, which upheld the Philippines’ case against China regarding claims in the West Philippine Sea and parts of the South China Sea.
During her earlier meeting with Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Berendsen, both sides raised concerns about the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including developments in the South China Sea. They reaffirmed that the Arbitration Award is legally binding and represents a significant contribution to international law and to the interpretation and application of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They underscored the importance of an open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, emphasizing that restraint, diplomacy, dialogue, and the peaceful settlement of disputes remain the most durable paths to resolving conflicts and safeguarding global stability.
Meanwhile, the panellists in the forum reflected on the global impacts of security developments around the world. They cited that security in the North Sea and South China Sea is closely-linked to developments and safety in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. They highlighted Europe’s expansion of partnerships beyond economic cooperation. They mentioned the momentum is now, and that high level visits, such as the visit of Sec. Lazaro and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands, are indications that things change rapidly. They expect that more of these high-level exchanges will happen very soon.
Packed visit
The DFA secretary’s visit also included a meeting with Secretary General Marcin Czepelak of the PCA at the Peace Palace. During their meeting, she affirmed the Philippines’ adherence to the peaceful settlement of disputes and its compliance with international law.
Sec. Lazaro also witnessed the turnover of the Philippine’s voluntary contribution of US$15,000 to The Hague Academy of International Law, which was received by the Academy’s Secretary General Jean-Marc Thouvenin. The contribution supports the institution’s scholarship program where many Filipino law scholars have also benefited.
The Dutch NGO The Ocean Cleanup (TOC) also made a courtesy call to the Secretary wherein its representatives presented their current projects to help address plastic pollution in the Pasig and Meycauayan Rivers. They provided an overview of their ongoing projects, highlighting Manila as a priority area under its 30 Cities Program. They are scheduled to launch TOC’s interceptor barrier in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan on June 3.
Filipino community meet-and-greet
After her high-level engagements, Sec. Lazaro dropped her guards down, and met the leaders of Filipino organisations and the Philippines-Netherlands Business Council (PNBC) on the evening of May 18.
She lauded the 75 years of productive Philippines-Netherlands relations, stating that her visit strengthens the economic, political and law cooperation of both countries, but also on people-to-people cooperation. “I think you (Filipino-Dutch community) are the important fabric that strengthens this cooperation,” she said.
Amb. Malaya thanked the Filipino community and PNBC, calling them the Embassy’s “close collaborators and steadfast partners”.
Meanwhile, Former ambassador to the Philippines Saskia De Lang, who now chairs the PNBC, said that the “external pressures that are happening today make cooperations strong, as in the case of Asia, that is why most in the Philippines and the Netherlands attach so much importance to the upcoming PH-EU Free Trade Agreement, which will benefit both the EU and Philippine companies.”
On behalf of the Filipino-Dutch community, Jofelle Tesorio, also TFCN senior correspondent, stated that many Filipinos have thrived in the Netherlands since the 1950s, while others have de-skilled to become competitive in the Dutch labor market. She added that the closely-knit Filipino community “has responded to every little crisis or every little achievement of our kababayans.”
Monsignor Jan Limchua, Charge d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, was also present at the event. Among the Filipino organisations represented were Ayuda sa Amsterdam, Filipino LGBT Europe, Knights of Rizal, SARO Community, Migrante Den Haag, MCVO, UP Alumni Association NL, Filipino Catholic Community-Rotterdam and the Stichting Bayanihan
Any Filipino event will not be complete without melodies. Jaylym Aldryne B. Escorpizo sang “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” accompanied on piano by Ambassador Malaya.
75 years of friendship
The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands began on May 17, 1951. Since then, it has grown significantly as an important economic partner, being a top 5 investor in the Philippines among the EU countries, pouring about P755 billion (Euro 12 billion) investments in the last 12 years. Among the Dutch companies operating in the Philippines are ING Bank, Nexperia and Ampleon, Royal Boskalis, Friesland Campina, East West Seed, Shell, Philips, and Royal Haskoning.
The Netherlands is also the country’s second-largest trading partner and export market in Europe, with a steady annual increase of some 10% in bilateral trade. The bulk of Philippine exports enter the European market through the Port of Rotterdam.
