In Person

Manila Strategy Forum 2026

September 9 – 10, 2026
Happening in Manila

Brought to you by

Southeast Asia Program

The Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies is pleased to announce that the 2026 Manila Strategy Forum will be hosted from September 9-10, 2026. The Forum is the centerpiece of CSIS’s U.S.-Philippines Initiative, which aims to deepen the partnership between the two countries.

This annual conference brings together top strategic and economic thinkers from the United States and the Philippines to discuss the most important events of the day. In 2025, we successfully conducted the inaugural Manila Strategy Forum, which was attended by over 700 guests and featured keynote remarks from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. 

This year, senior officials will provide remarks and high-level panels will discuss navigating global economic shocks, the evolving international order, and U.S.-Philippine cooperation on defense, infrastructure, and emerging technology. ​

Manila Strategy Forum Day 1 (September 9)

Keynote Address

9:05 am
  • Hon. Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines

Panel 1: Latest Shifts in the International Order

9:35 am

Moderator: Will Todman, Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, CSIS

  • Max Bergmann, Director, Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS
  • Victor Cha, President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy; Korea Chair, CSIS
  • Amb. Edgard Kagan, Senior Fellow and Freeman Chair, CSIS
  • Mely Caballero-Anthony, Professor of International Relations, RSIS
  • Enrico Gloria, Assistant Professor, UP Diliman 

Lunch Armchair Discussion

12:05 pm

Moderator: Amb. John Negroponte, Co-Chairman, US-Philippines Society

  • Nicholas Kay, Deputy Head of Mission and Minister, Australian Embassy in the Philippines
  • Bridgette Walker, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States in the Philippines
  • Sho Ono, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines

Panel 2: Building Resilient Energy, Infrastructure, and the Blue Economy

1:20 pm

Moderator: Kristi Govella, Senior Adviser and Japan Chair, CSIS

Nygiel Armada, Chief of Party, Fish Right Program

Amb. Heather Variava, Senior Advisor, Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business

Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Mike Guarin, Head of Advisory, R.G. Manabat & Co.

Alberto Dalusung III, Energy Transition Advisor, ICSC

Panel 3: Strengthening Regional Alliance Networks

3:05 pm

Moderator: Julio S. Amador III, Executive Director, Philippine-American Educational Foundation 

Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute 

Kristi Govella, Senior Adviser and Japan Chair, CSIS 

Justin Baquisal, Regional Intelligence Lead for Asia-Pacific at Pinkerton Singapore; National Security Analyst at F.A.C.T.S. Asia

Matteo Piasentini, Senior Lecturer, UP Diliman 

Manila Strategy Forum Day 2 (September 10)

Panel 4: Tariffs, Trade Deals, and International Geoeconomic Shocks

9:45 am

Moderator: Gregory B. Poling, Senior Fellow and Director, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, CSIS 

Angelica Ortega, Senior Country Research Analyst, US-ASEAN Business Council 

Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy, Hinrich Foundation 

Irene Chan, Senior Research Program Manager, Singapore Office, APF Canada

Erin Murphy, Managing Director, Asia, Redpoint Advisors 

Luncheon Armchair Discussion

12:05 pm
  • Hon. Gilberto Teodoro, Secretary for National Defense, Republic of the Philippines

Panel 5: International Crises – From Iran to Venezuela

1:05 pm

Moderator: Harrison Prétat, Deputy Director and Fellow, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, CSIS

  • Will Todman, Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, CSIS
  • Henry Ziemer, Fellow, Americas Program, CSIS  
  • Aries Arugay, Professor, Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman 
  • Jean Encinas Franco, Professor, Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman 

Panel 6: Building the Industries of the Future

2:50 pm

Moderator: Amb. Edgard Kagan, Senior Fellow and Freeman Chair, CSIS

  • Hank Hendrickson, Executive Director, U.S.-Philippines Society 
  • Karen Jimeno, Chief Legal Counsel, SofCap Partners 
  • Josephine Romero, ASEAN BAC Senior Adviser & PCORP President
  • Francis Initorio, Chairman, Trade and Investments Committee (North Luzon), American Chamber of Commerce
  • Shan Byrne, Director, International Business Development, Lockheed Martin

Closing Keynote

4:30 pm
  • Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr (Ret), National Security Advisor, Republic of the Philippines 

​​​​​​This event is made possible with support from the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG in the Philippines).

Tags

Asia, and Southeast Asia

Hosted By

Contact Information

Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Victor Cha

Victor Cha

President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair
Kristi Govella

Kristi Govella

Senior Adviser and Japan Chair; Associate Professor, University of Oxford
Gregory B. Poling

Gregory B. Poling

Director and Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Harrison Prétat

Harrison Prétat

Deputy Director and Fellow, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Will Todman

Will Todman

Chief of Staff, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Programs & Projects