Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their counterparts from the United States military join the opening of the 39th iteration of Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 22, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773382893424173321874586720240422-balikatan-opening-afp-JC-2742.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their counterparts from the United States military join the opening of the 39th iteration of Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 22, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their counterparts from the United States military join the opening of the 39th iteration of Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 22, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said US military support for the country remains unchanged despite the reported redeployment of its missile systems to the Middle East from South Korea.</p><p>AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said there are no indications that Washington plans to withdraw its military assets deployed in the Philippines.</p><p>The US had a Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines and has access to select AFP facilities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/11/afp-says-brp-sierra-madre-personnel-data-may-have-been-compromised-1352">AFP says BRP Sierra Madre personnel data may have been compromised</a></div><p>Among the US assets in the country are the Typhon (Mid-Range Capability) missile system, which has been deployed since 2024, and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which arrived last year.</p><p>Both defense systems were used in military exercises, such as the annual Balikatan.</p><p>“Our alliance with the US continues to strengthen and there has been no change in the level of support being provided,” Trinidad told ABS-CBN news in a text message.</p><p>“There are no indications of the US pulling out military assets from the Philippines,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/afp-china-linked-espionage-in-ph-part-of-growing-global-intelligence-trend-1605">AFP: China-linked espionage in PH part of growing global intelligence trend</a></div><p>Trinidad’s remarks came after reports that the US has started pulling out some missile-defense systems from South Korea for deployment to the Middle East, where it and Israel started a war with Iran.</p><p>The redeployment has prompted questions about whether similar moves could occur elsewhere in Asia.</p><p>“The situation in South Korea involves specific air defense systems being redeployed to the Middle East, which is a separate theater arrangement and does not apply here,” Trinidad said.</p><p>Trinidad emphasized that cooperation between the Philippines and the US continues to expand.</p><p>“The upward trajectory of the RP-US alliance is manifested in our continuing maritime activities and strengthened MDB-SEB [Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board] engagements,” he said.</p><p>The official also cited US Congress&#x27; December 2025 approval of the Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act, which authorizes $2.5 billion in security assistance over the next five years.</p><p>Trinidad also reiterated that sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) remain Philippine military bases despite US troops having access to them.</p><p>“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,” he noted.</p><p>The Philippines and the United States are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a 1951 defense pact that obliges both countries to come to each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1q_E_Q6G0hk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said US military support for the country remains unchanged despite the reported redeployment of its missile systems to the Middle East from South Korea.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said US military support for the country remains unchanged despite the reported redeployment of its missile systems to the Middle East from South Korea.

US support to PH 'unchanged' despite Middle East conflict — AFP

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US support to PH 'unchanged' despite Middle East conflict — AFP

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 13, 2026 02:43 PM PHT

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