Marilyn Cahatol

The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), during its arrival ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 08, 2025. Philippine Navy

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MV MIGUEL MALVAR

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176759080344520250408-mv-miguel-malvar-PN.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), during its arrival ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 08, 2025. Philippine Navy "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), during its arrival ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 08, 2025.<em> Philippine Navy </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines marked 2025 as a pivotal year for national defense and regional security by sealing landmark defense agreements, strengthening joint exercises with its allied and partner nations, and commissioning new naval assets amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>At the forefront of Manila’s diplomatic gains was the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan in September, allowing the large-scale deployment of Japanese troops for joint drills on Philippine soil.</p><p>In a year-end report sent by Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines also signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with New Zealand—the first of its kind with the South Pacific state—on April 30.</p><p>The pact paves the way for troop presence for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and collective security operations.</p><p>This was followed by the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Germany on May 14, which focuses on cybersecurity, logistics and defensive weaponry transfers.</p><p>Another milestone came on November 2, when Manila inked a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/2/philippines-canada-ink-landmark-visiting-forces-deal-1605">SOVFA </a>with Canada, marking Ottawa’s first military access pact in the Indo-Pacific region.</p><p>Negotiations for a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with France have also advanced steadily, with the second round of negotiations concluding on December 11. A formal signing is expected early this year.</p><div> </div><div><strong>STRENGTHENED MILITARY EXERCISES</strong></div><p>According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 2025 also saw strengthened major joint and unilateral exercises.</p><p>Balikatan in April and May involved participants from the Philippines, the United States, Australia and Japan, and made history with the first-ever integrated missile defense drills in Batanes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/21/-shared-adversity-new-weapons-as-philippine-us-forces-launch-balikatan-1135">&#x27;Shared adversity&#x27;, new weapons as Philippine, US forces launch &#x27;Balikatan&#x27;</a></div><p>Salaknib between Manila and Washington, conducted in two phases from March to July, focused on long-range rocket artillery operations, including the deployment of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in Luzon.</p><p>Kamandag, meanwhile, honed island seizure and littoral beach landing capabilities of forces from the Philippines, the US, Japan and Korea. The exercise was conducted from May 26 to June 6.</p><p>Later in the year, ALON showcased joint force operations and airfield seizures in Luzon, particularly in Palawan, as well as live fire exercises in the West Philippine Sea, while SAMASAMA advanced anti-submarine warfare drills with the US, Canada and Japan.</p><p>The AFP capped the year with AJEX DAGIT-PA in November, testing “unilateral” readiness across the Army, Air Force and Navy.</p><div> </div><div><strong>NAVY MODERNIZATION PUSH</strong></div><p>This year, the Navy continued to expand its fleet.</p><p>On May 20, it commissioned the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), a guided missile frigate equipped with heavy surface-to-air missiles and advanced sonar systems, and the BRP Albert Majini (PG-909), an Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) used for rapid coastal strikes and swarming maneuvers.</p><p>The year closed with the commissioning of the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07)—the sister ship of BRP Miguel Malvar—on December 2, further bolstering the Navy’s surface combat strength.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/8/philippines-welcomes-new-guided-missile-warship-1658">Philippines welcomes new guided missile warship</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RISING TENSIONS AT SEA</strong></div><p>Despite these gains, 2025 was not without incident.</p><p>The AFP recalled that on August 11, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy destroyer and a China Coast Guard (CCG) cutter <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/2-chinese-ships-collide-after-chasing-philippine-vessel-in-bajo-de-masinloc-pcg-1102">collided </a>near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal while attempting a high-speed intercept of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessel.</p><p>A video released by the PCG showed that there were four personnel of the CCG 3104 at the front of their vessel, installing a fender, when they were suddenly rammed by the PLA Navy 164. Immediately after the impact, the four personnel could no longer be seen in the video. The CCG vessel also sustained heavy damage in the incident.</p><p>Meanwhile, on October 24, Philippine forces intercepted Chinese fishing boats near Ayungin Shoal, confiscating suspected cyanide and illegal fishing equipment.</p><p>In December, Chinese vessels <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/3-pinoy-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-harassment-from-chinese-vessels-pcg-1435">fired </a>high-pressure water cannons at Filipino fishing boats near Escoda or Sabina Shoal, injuring three fishermen.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/marcos-wants-more-coast-guard-vessels-to-protect-ph-s-interests-in-west-ph-sea-palace-1725">Marcos wants more Coast Guard vessels to protect PH’s interests in West PH Sea: Palace</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cgELwEhlWUA?si=zNUW8mlOY6Cgs2el" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippines sealed landmark defense agreements, strengthened joint exercises with its allied and partner nations, and commissioned new naval assets amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Philippines sealed landmark defense agreements, strengthened joint exercises with its allied and partner nations, and commissioned new naval assets amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

New defense agreements, new warships: PH reinforces maritime defense in 2025

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New defense agreements, new warships: PH reinforces maritime defense in 2025

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2026 02:34 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

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