MANILA, Jan. 31 -- The upcoming visit of United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to the Philippines would strengthen the two nations' alliance and existing defense agreements, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Tuesday.

Romualdez said Austin is expected to arrive in Manila after a stop in South Korea by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Austin will pay a courtesy call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and hold meetings with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

"It's an ongoing relationship that we've had with the United States. As President Marcos has pointed o...