U.S., Philippine Forces to Hold 500 Military Exercises in 2026
Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
August 22, 2025 3:17 PM
U.S. and Philippine forces are set to hold more than 500 military-to-military activities throughout the coming year – a move the two countries claim will bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
American and Philippine defense officials agreed on exercises, joint patrols and other activities slated for 2026 during the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board earlier this month in Hawaii. The series of annual meetings guide the course of U.S.-Philippine defense cooperation and have been held since 1958.
This year’s meeting comes on the heels of an enhanced relationship between Washington and Manila. It also coincides with the latter’s tensions in the South China Sea and concerns of a potential Taiwan conflict spillover into the Luzon Strait.
Military activities between the U.S. and the Philippines began to spike following Chinese maritime incidents in the western Philippine exclusive economic zone in 2022, prompting President Bongbong Marcos to reinvigorate Manila’s previously shaky relationship with Washington.
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/22/u-s-philippine-forces-to-hold-500-military-exercises-in-2026
