Over 500 military activities between AFP, US approved for 2026
Published Aug 19, 2025 02:20 pm
(L-R) General Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, sign the 8-star memo during the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting at Camp Smith in Hawaii on August 7, 2025. Over 500 military engagements between the AFP and US Indopacom were approved for 2026 as a result of the two officials' meeting. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Angel Heraldez/US Indopacom)
More than 500 bilateral engagements, such as military trainings, will be conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) in 2026, it was bared on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. met with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, commander of the US Indopacom, at Camp Smith in Hawaii earlier this month for the annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting.
The MDB-SEB is a bilateral mechanism between AFP and the US Armed Forces that oversees defense and security cooperation under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), including bilateral planning and training between the allied forces.
“During the visit, Paparo and Brawner signed the annual 8-Star memo and activities list, approving guidance and plans for continued collaboration, including Exercise Balikatan 2026, in the coming year. The co-chairs approved more than 500 joint engagements, ranging from large-scale exercises to smaller subject matter expert exchanges,” a statement from the US Indopacom read.
During the visit, the US Indopacom said that Brawner and Paparo renewed their commitment to deepen their cooperation and interoperability “to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The 2026 schedule builds on the success of large-scale bilateral and multilateral drills such as Balikatan, which in recent years has reached its biggest iteration, and Kamandag, a marine-focused exercise. The activities often involve not only live-fire training and amphibious operations but also civic-action programs that benefit local communities.
Beyond training, Manila has also allowed Washington expanded access to military facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
At present, nine EDCA sites are being developed across the country, including several locations in northern Luzon and Palawan, which are seen as strategic given their proximity to Taiwan and the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The ramp-up military cooperation between the Philippines and United States comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in WPS, where Chinese vessels have repeatedly engaged in dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels.
Last Aug. 11, two Chinese vessels collided in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Ayungin Shoal) while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship.
Manila has consistently accused Beijing of violating international law, particularly the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The US, for its part, has repeatedly invoked the MDT, stressing that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, aircraft, or vessels in the South China Sea would trigger its defense commitments.
In a separate press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, AFP spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad clarified that the military will maintain its regular patrol operations and surveillance flights in Bajo de Masinloc.
Earlier, the National Maritime Council disclosed that the national government will not deploy Philippine Navy warships to the shoal to avoid escalating tension with China, especially after the collision of its vessels.
Trinidad clarified that the NMC was referring to the non-intervention of the Philippine Navy with the law enforcement operations jointly conducted by the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“The mission of the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR was to support our fisher folks through the conduct of the Kadiwa para sa Bagong Mamamayang Mangingisda. That is a law enforcement support operation,” he said. “The AFP, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force regularly conduct maritime patrol operations and air surveillance flights in Bajo de Masinloc, the Northern Islands, Benham Rise. There is no conflict in both statements. We have our respective mandates to perform.”
He reiterated that the AFP “has never left the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc”, as well as the Northern Islands, Benham Rise, and the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).