Lee Lipton, the newly appointed United States ambassador to the Philippines, arrives in Manila to officially begin his diplomatic tour, the U.S. Embassy says. Multiple outlets report that the Embassy made the announcement through its social media accounts over the weekend, welcoming Lipton back to the country. The reports state that Lipton has already traveled to the Philippines and that his earlier visits, including time as an entrepreneur, left him with impressions of the country’s “energy” and “resilience,” as well as a strong sense of family.
One report also quotes Lipton describing himself as “excited” to strengthen ties between Manila and Washington. His remarks connect the start of his posting to ongoing commemorations involving the United States and the Philippines, including the U.S. celebration of 250 years of independence and the framing of the countries’ relationship through events marked by the U.S. Embassy.
All accounts agree that Lipton’s arrival marks the start of his work as ambassador, following his appointment.
