Relax Lang — AFP Confirms US Hindi Mag-Pupull Out ng Military Assets sa Pilipinas Despite Middle East War
Amid growing fears that the United States might redirect its military hardware away from the Philippines to support the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has a clear message: relax, hindi mangyayari 'yon. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, categorically dismissed the concern.
"There are no indications of the US pulling out military assets from the Philippines," Trinidad said. He explained that the recent reports of Washington moving Patriot air defense batteries and parts of its THAAD system from South Korea involves a "separate theater arrangement" that doesn't apply to the Philippines.
The admiral emphasized that the US-Philippines alliance is actually getting stronger, not weaker. Key US systems currently operating on a rotational basis in the country include the Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) — capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles with over 1,600 km range — plus the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and HIMARS. All remain in place.
Trinidad pointed to the Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), passed by the US Congress in late 2025, which guarantees $500 million annually through 2030 — totaling $2.5 billion — to modernize the AFP's coastal defenses and long-range capabilities. On top of that, the bilateral Mutual Defense Board recently approved over 500 joint military activities for 2026.
As for the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country, Trinidad was firm: "EDCA sites are Philippine bases with facilities dedicated to mutual defense and humanitarian assistance, and are not to be used as staging areas for offensive operations." The bottom line? The US-PH military partnership isn't just holding steady — it's on an upward trajectory.
Source: Manila Bulletin
