Dhaka, July 22 -- U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday as both nations look to deepen security and trade ties amid rising tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific.

Marcos, currently on a three-day U.S. visit, already met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. He becomes the first Southeast Asian leader to visit Trump in his second term.

With China's increasing aggression in the South China Sea - particularly around Scarborough Shoal - defense and economic cooperation are expected to top the agenda. Trump has threatened a 20% tariff on Philippine goods starting August 1 unless a new bilateral trade agreement is reached.

Tru...