03/11/2025
During APEC, Duterte managed to hold meetings with Putin, Xi, and Trump, leaders considered as MAJOR global power players.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. had no formal bilateral meetings, not even an informal coffee chat with any world leader.
Duterte came home with NEW ALLIANCES.
Marcos came home with PHOTOGRAPHS.
You don’t have to agree with Duterte’s politics, but it’s hard to deny he understood the geopolitical game.
Smart leaders don’t isolate themselves from global power brokers; they engage with ALL OF THEM.
True statesmanship lies in knowing who to sit with and when to speak.
