As the Indo-Pacific edges deeper into strategic turbulence, one partnership is proving to be a bulwark against uncertainty: the U.S.-Philippine alliance. In a region where China’s maritime assertiveness is reshaping the balance of power, old allies are finding new resolve. On May 30, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro convened in Washington for a high-stakes dialogue that went beyond diplomatic pleasantries. It was a reaffirmation—loud and clear—of their shared commitment to restoring deterrence in one of the world’s most contested theaters.
This wasn’t just a ceremonial meeting. It was a strategic continuation of their March 28 discussions in Manila, where both leaders underscored that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty remains not only relevant but essential in today’s evolving threat landscape. From Chinese gray-zone tactics to militarized reefs in the South China Sea, the threats are no longer abstract—they’re right on the Philippines’ doorstep.
Hegseth and Teodoro’s discussions celebrated a major milestone: the conclusion of Balikatan 2025, the largest and most complex joint military exercise in the history of the alliance. With over 14,000 troops and the deployment of cutting-edge U.S. systems—including the Typhon missile platform, NMESIS, and unmanned surface vessels—the exercise sent a strong message: deterrence is back, and it’s bolder than ever.
But this evolving alliance isn’t just about exercises and defense hardware. It’s about forging a future-ready coalition—technologically adaptive, operationally sharp, and politically resolute. With new EDCA sites, strengthened cyber cooperation, and discussions on co-producing unmanned systems, the U.S.-Philippine defense relationship is shifting from reactive to proactive.
As Secretary Hegseth aptly declared, “Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese.” In that spirit, the May 30 dialogue wasn’t just another bilateral meeting—it was a powerful signal to Beijing and beyond: the alliance is aligned, the resolve is real, and the Indo-Pacific will not be surrendered to coercion.

Key Points of Discussion and Outcomes

A. Support for the Philippines’ Firm Stance on the South China Sea
The United States expressed strong support for the Philippines’ resolute position in defending its sovereign rights in the South China Sea. Tensions in the region escalated further on May 22, 2025, when the Philippine fisheries bureau reported that the Chinese coastguard used water cannons and physically sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday during a research mission near Sandy Cay. The attack, which damaged the vessel’s port bow and smokestack, marked the first recorded use of water cannons against a Philippine vessel in this area. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of increasingly aggressive behavior, with Chinese ships frequently forcing Filipino boats off course and using lasers and other coercive measures against Filipino fishermen.

This growing hostility prompted Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to label China’s expansive claims as “the biggest fiction and lie,” directly attributing the belligerence to President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party leadership. Teodoro warned that China’s actions pose not just a regional but a global threat, endangering vital trade routes and attempting to rewrite international law through force. He underscored that a fatal incident involving a Filipino at sea could trigger the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty—an unequivocal red line.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed these concerns, commending Manila for “standing up against China’s aggressive actions” and reaffirming alliance commitments. President Marcos Jr., likewise, doubled down on the country’s defense stance by retaining Teodoro in a recent cabinet reshuffle and calling for a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea during the 46th ASEAN Summit. These statements and actions signal a deepening strategic resolve in confronting unlawful Chinese incursions.

 Highlighting the Success of Exercise BALIKATAN

Both secretaries hailed the unprecedented scale and sophistication of Exercise BALIKATAN 2025, the 40th iteration of the joint U.S.-Philippine military exercise. Running from April 21 to May 9, 2025, the drills involved more than 17,000 troops, including around 9,000 Americans and 5,000 Filipinos, with significant contributions from Australian and Japanese forces. The exercises spanned a wide range of domains—land, sea, air, cyber, cognitive, and even space—underscoring the multidimensional threats both allies aim to deter.

Latest Update: Philippines to Develop its Biggest Airport In the Spratly Islands Claimed by China’

One of the standout moments was a large-scale maritime strike off Zambales on May 5, attended by President Marcos Jr. Notably, the U.S. Marine Corps deployed the cutting-edge Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to Batan Island for the first time, enabling precise anti-ship capabilities in the Luzon Strait. NMESIS, mounted on unmanned light tactical vehicles, offers a sea-denial capability with a range of approximately 100 nautical miles.
U.S. Lt. Gen. James Glynn emphasized the scale of the exercise, highlighting over 20 participating nations and the opportunity to “preserve peace for the good of all.” Philippine Army Gen. Romeo Brawner echoed this sentiment, framing the drills as a comprehensive readiness assessment across all operational domains. U.S. Joint Task Force commander Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm praised the expeditionary training with NMESIS as a milestone in maritime defense cooperation.
Beyond missiles, the exercise showcased technological advancements, including the Typhon mid-range missile system capable of targeting southern China, and the deployment of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) like the electric Mantas T-12. These USVs enhance the Philippines’ maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and electronic warfare capabilities—further embedding the alliance’s interoperability.

Shared Emphasis on Partnership and Transparency

A core message throughout the May 30, 2025 readout was the mutual emphasis on transparency and strategic partnership as key to deterring further Chinese provocations. Both secretaries agreed that credible deterrence depends not only on advanced weaponry but on open coordination and logistical depth. In this spirit, a landmark Joint Vision Statement on U.S.-Philippine Defense Industrial Cooperation was released on March 28, identifying priority areas such as unmanned systems, ship and aircraft maintenance, critical minerals, and logistical support.

Philippines EU Launch Security Dialogue Amid Rising Tensions in the SCS!

Secretary Teodoro stressed that sustained engagement is essential to restoring deterrence and maintaining global stability, while Secretary Hegseth highlighted the importance of logistics—arguing that advanced systems are meaningless without robust operational support. This vision reflects a shift from symbolic military gestures to deeper, more sustainable defense integration.
Ongoing dialogues between Hegseth and Teodoro serve as a visible manifestation of this enduring alliance. Transparency, too, has become a strategic tool. The Philippine government, through figures like Commodore Jay Tarriela, has leaned into public and international transparency whenever incidents with China occur, shaping narratives and galvanizing global support.
This combination of force posture, public diplomacy, and industrial synergy illustrates a shared commitment by Washington and Manila to deter aggression while reinforcing a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.

Summary

The U.S.-Philippines defense alliance has significantly deepened as of March and May 2025, marked by high-level meetings, the largest-ever Balikatan exercise involving 17,000 troops, and the rollout of advanced systems like Typhon and NMESIS. Both nations have advanced cooperation through joint vision statements on defense industrial ties, expanded EDCA site access, cybersecurity campaigns, and large-scale training initiatives like the JPMRC Exportable at Fort Magsaysay. These moves reflect a shared emphasis on readiness and credible deterrence amid rising regional tensions, particularly in response to China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea—such as the May 22 sideswiping of a Philippine vessel near Sandy Cay. Public support for stronger alliances, alongside multilateral engagement with Australia and Japan, underscores a broader push for resilience, deterrence by denial, and a stable Indo-Pacific anchored in international law.