US envoy Carlson to end PHL stint

WASHINGTON on Monday said that US Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson is set to complete her stint as envoy to the Philippines by January of next year.

In a statement, US Embassy Spokesperson Jameson DeBose confirmed that Ms. Carlson would end her tour of duty in Manila by January 2026, capping off almost four years of active service.

“I have enjoyed a rewarding career as a State Department diplomat for more than 40 years, the highlight of which has been serving as Ambassador to the Philippines since July 2022,” Ms. Carlson was quoted as saying.

Ms. Carlson was involved in strengthening defense ties, economic cooperation and advancing people to people exchanges with Manila during her tenure as US Ambassador to the Philippines.

Her exit followed a Reuters report, saying the Trump administration recalled about 30 ambassadors and other senior career diplomats last week.

When asked if her removal as envoy was linked to the recall, Mr. DeBose said: “Ambassador Carlson will complete her tour as Ambassador to the Philippines in January.”

In October, Mr. Trump appointed businessman Lee Lipton as the new ambassador to the Philippines, which is still pending the US Senate’s approval.

Mr. Lipton currently oversees operations aimed at advancing American interests in the western hemisphere while leading efforts to address regional challenges, including countering Chinese influence in the Americas.

The US is the Philippines’ closest ally, with bilateral ties anchored on a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that commits both nations to support each other in the event of an armed attack in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.

The Philippines hosts several joint military sites with the US across strategic locations, including bases near regional flashpoints like Taiwan.

The alliance has come under increasing pressure from China’s growing assertiveness, as Beijing’s military activities and shows of force have heightened tensions in a vital waterway that handles trillions of dollars in annual seaborne trade each year. — Adrian H. Halili