Philippines Defense Secretary Casts Doubt on F-16 Purchase At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2025, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro cast significant doubt on the long-speculated purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States. His remarks, reported on June 2–3, came in stark contrast to earlier momentum surrounding the deal. Teodoro…
Philippines Weighs Acquisition of U.S.-Made Typhon Missile System Amid Rising Regional Tensions MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is actively considering the acquisition of the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system, a highly advanced, mobile, land-based platform capable of launching intermediate-range precision-guided missiles—including the long-range Tomahawk cruise missile—as part of its ongoing defense modernization efforts. According to…
Philippines Weighs Acquisition of U.S Made Typhon Missile System Amid Rising Regional Tensions MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is actively considering the acquisition of the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system, a highly advanced, mobile, land-based platform capable of launching intermediate-range precision-guided missiles—including the long-range Tomahawk cruise missile—as part of its ongoing defense modernization efforts. According…
Philippines Defense Chief Slams China’s Behavior in the South China In a bold signal that the Philippines is doubling down on its tough stance against Beijing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has retained Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. amid a sweeping Cabinet revamp. Known as one of the most vocal critics of China in the region,…
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…
Philippines to Develop its Biggest Airport In the icy waters of the North Atlantic, NATO frigates and Russian submarines play a silent game of cat-and-mouse through the GIUK Gap—a strategic naval chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK. It’s a place where geography defines power, where nations dig in not for conquest, but for presence….
Without U.S. who will stand against china? In a region where every missile launch makes headlines and alliances define stability, a quiet but powerful shift is underway. The United States is considering a partial military withdrawal of around 4,500 troops from South Korea—out of the 28,500 currently stationed there. At first glance, it seems like…
Pagasa Island—aptly named “hope” in Filipino—is a mere 37 hectares in size, yet it carries immense symbolic and strategic weight for the Philippines. Situated in the disputed South China Sea, it hosts a tiny civilian community of around 300 residents who live in modest wooden homes, fish the greenish blue waters, and grow vegetables in…
The Philippines’ Modernization Imperative: From Internal Security to Archipelagic Defense The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has historically focused on internal security challenges such as insurgencies and terrorism, with limited investment in external defense capabilities. This internal orientation, coupled with outdated equipment, left the country vulnerable to external threats. However, recent developments in…
Imagine a place of stunning beauty — islands surrounded by bright turquoise waters, home to colorful coral reefs and peaceful beaches. Now picture that same place at the center of a dangerous global conflict. That’s what’s happening in the South China Sea, where geography meets geopolitics in a very tense way. This sea is one…
