More than 500 PH-US military engagements slated for 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Usual number of military engagements between Manila and Washington are slated for 2026 amid escalating aggressions of Beijing against America’s oldest treaty ally in Asia.

“More than 500 joint engagements” were approved as the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) convened in the Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) headquarters in Hawaii from August 7-8, according to the statement by the unified US command overseeing the Indo-Pacific region.

The approximate number of “more than 500” is similar when compared to previous years.

READ: US, PH discuss more missile system deployments

Indopacom commander Adm. Samuel Paparo hosted Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., who both approved the military engagements.

“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 Indopacom said.

Aside from large-scale exercises like Balikatan war games, the number of engagements agreed upon during the MDB-SEB includes even the smallest of subject matter expert exchanges.

The MDB-SEB forms the framework that directs and enables defense and security cooperation in line with the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington that calls for each other’s defense in case of an “armed attack.”

READ: US Navy calls false China’s claim it expelled American warship from Panatag Shoal

More missiles for Balikatan?

Indopacom did not mention anything about deployment of new equipment in upcoming drills.

However, Jose Manuel Romualdez, Manila’s ambassador to Washington, told Associated Press that both nations are discussing the possible deployment of more Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System or NMESIS missile launchers to the Philippines.

The US first deployed during 2024 Balikatan mid-range missile system called Typhon, a land-based weapon that can fire the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile up to a distance of 2,500 kilometers.

Also used during Balikatan this year were NMESIS, an anti-ship missile system designed to strike surface vessels from land-based positions at a distance of about 185 kilometers.

Both missiles have stayed in the country since, which was met with repeated condemnation from Beijing.

US-PH joint patrols ‘a success’

Indopacom, meanwhile, noted that the bilateral and multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCAs) or joint patrols between Manila and Washington proved to be a success this year.

“These events are essential in ensuring freedom of navigation and improving interoperability,” the unified command said.

Since 2023, the AFP has conducted 12 MCAs in the West Philippine Sea, of which seven were held with the US, which always saw the watchful presence of Chinese warships, albeit from afar.

Botched

But the August 11 incident in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal saw the unprecedented direct participation of a Chinese warship in a botched attempt to frustrate the outreach program led by civilian Filipino ships there.

A 157-meter People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) warship with hull no. 164 joined the blocking operations against the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Suluan, leading to a PLA-N warship colliding with a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with hull no. 3104.

Both Chinese ships suffered damage, with CCG-3104’s forecastle being crushed while four of its personnel went overboard.

On Aug. 14, two American warships sailed off Panatag Shoal in what the US 7th Fleet called an exercise of freedom of navigation but deemed by observers as a clear message against Beijing. /cb