United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to the Philippines has reaffirmed the enduring alliance between the two nations, as the Indo-Pacific grapples with escalating tensions. The visit, marking Hegseth’s inaugural foray into this strategically vital region, underscored U.S. commitment to bolstering defense cooperation and addressing shared security concerns, most notably growing instability in the South China Sea.
Hegseth’s first stop on his Indo-Pacific trip was the Philippines, where he told officials that the U.S. will boost its deterrence against China’s aggression, according to CNN. The Philippines has experienced escalating maritime disputes with an aggressive Beijing. Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippines’ defense secretary, said: “We are facing a common threat, which is the overreach of the Communist Party of China,” the Times reported.
In the wake of Hegseth’s visit, the U.S. approved the potential sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to Manila, CNN reported.
Central to Hegseth’s itinerary were high-level meetings with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., where discussions focused on reinforcing the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The leaders reiterated the treaty’s role in maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the shared vision of regional stability.
The U.S. also pledged to deploy advanced military capabilities to the Philippines, a move designed to enhance the nation’s defense posture. This deployment includes the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and unmanned surface vessels, assets that will not only bolster combined training exercises but also improve the interoperability of Philippines and U.S. forces. These assets are scheduled to be integrated into the upcoming Balikatan exercise and other collaborative training operations, ensuring that both nations’ militaries are well-equipped to operate seamlessly together.
“These systems will enable U.S. forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to train together on using advanced capabilities to defend the Philippines’ sovereignty,” Hegseth said.
Further strengthening the alliance, Philippine and U.S. special operations forces will engage in combined training exercises in the strategically important Batanes Islands, located at the northernmost tip of the Philippine archipelago. This initiative aims to refine combined capabilities for high-end operations, addressing challenges posed by the region’s complex security landscape.
Recognizing the growing importance of cybersecurity in modern defense, the Philippines and the U.S. have committed to launching a bilateral cybersecurity campaign to enhance resilience and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities. It encompasses efforts to establish secure defense networks, develop a skilled cybersecurity workforce and share best practices in cyber defense.
The commitment to enhance defense cooperation extends beyond military hardware and training. A joint vision statement outlined plans for increased defense industrial base collaboration. This includes exploring potential co-production of unmanned systems and enhancing logistics support, with the dual objectives of strengthening both nations’ defense capabilities and fostering economic growth. The focus on defense industrial cooperation is a strategic move designed to build up the Philippines’ domestic defense capabilities, reducing its reliance on external support and enhancing its ability to protect its territorial integrity. The discussions also highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation, with both sides emphasizing the need to work closely with other regional Partners to address shared security challenges.
“These initiatives will help us share burdens and promote a more comprehensive partnership; we intend for these efforts to boost both of our economies and strengthen supply chain resilience,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth’s visit occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where China’s increasingly assertive actions have raised alarm among regional nations. The deployment of advanced U.S. military capabilities and the increased joint training exercises highlight the U.S. commitment to defending Philippine sovereignty and upholding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, principles enshrined in international law.