MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the country early Sunday from a trilateral summit that he said will change the dynamics in the South China Sea and the region.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2nd from left), with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (3rd from left), meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (2nd from right) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2nd from left), with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (3rd from left), meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (2nd from right) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left), with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (2nd from left), meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center), with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (2nd L) and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (2nd from right), meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2024. AFP PHOTO

The President arrived at 3:03 a.m. at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, the Presidential Communications Office said.

In his meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Marcos said they reaffirmed their commitment "to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific."

"We are guided by our shared values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and gender equality," the President said.

"We explored ways of enhancing our cooperation in a number of areas of mutual concern, including in enhancing economic resilience and security, promoting inclusive growth and development, addressing climate change and maritime cooperation," he added.