US approves sale of 20 US F-16 fighter jets to Philippines as Washington tightens key Asian alliance
The United States has approved the potential sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to Manila, giving the key US ally in the Indo-Pacific a major upgrade to its air force just days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to counter 'China's aggression.'
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the proposed sale of the F-16s and related equipment, worth an estimated $5.58 billion, in a statement on Tuesday.
'This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia,' DSCA said.
The announcement comes less than a week after Hegseth visited the Philippines, his first trip to Asia as defense chief, and said Washington will enhance its military alliance with Manila as it aims to 'reestablish deterrence' to counter 'China's aggression' in the Indo-Pacific region.
On Wednesday, China cautioned Manila on the deal.
'Any defense and security cooperation that the Philippines engages in with other countries should not target or harm the interests of any third party, nor should it threaten regional peace and security or escalate tensions in the region,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
'As for who is fueling the flames, who is provoking military confrontation, and who is turning Asia into a powder keg, we believe that regional countries can see the situation clearly.'
The Philippines has been on the front lines of China's increasingly aggressive posture in Asia. Beijing seeks to assert its claim over the bulk of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling denying its sovereignty over the waterway.
Hegseth said Friday the US would deploy additional advanced military capabilities to the US ally for joint training, enhance interoperability for 'high end operations' and prioritize defense industrial cooperation.
In its statement, DSCA said Manila had requested to buy 16 F-16Cs – single-seat, single-engine fighter jets – and four F-16Ds, dual-seat jets that are usually used for training purposes.
The F-16s are the block 70/72 newest variant of the workhorse military warplane, which entered service with the US Air Force in the late 1970s.
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin says the new F-16s are the world's most advanced fourth-generation fighter, touting a 'structural service life' of more than 12,000 hours.
The F-16s, along with advanced avionics, radar and weaponry included in the deal, are a significant upgrade to the Philippine Air Force's fighter fleet. Currently, it has only 12 South Korean-made FA-50 jets, a lighter ground attack and fighter jet.
The F-16s have a top speed of more than 1,500 miles per hour, Lockheed Martin says, about 350 mph faster than the FA-50.
Speaking alongside Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Friday, Hegseth called the US-Philippine relationship an 'ironclad alliance, particularly in the face of Communist China's aggression in the region.'
The Trump administration has vowed to 'truly prioritize a shift' to the Indo-Pacific, Hegseth said, with the 'recognition that for the 21st century to be a free century, America needs to stand alongside our allies and partners shoulder to shoulder.'
The American military presence in Asia is seen by allies as a critical counterbalance in a fractious region where China has been rapidly expanding its military might and a belligerent North Korea has been empowered by closer ties with Russia.
Trump has repeatedly questioned the structure of US military alliances and whether the US was getting enough out of such partnerships and basing arrangements, including those in Asia where tens of thousands of troops are stationed in sprawling bases in Japan and South Korea.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
‘Keep on Buying,' Says Morgan Stanley About Tesla Stock
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock is back in focus as Elon Musk shifts gears, stepping away from political headlines and returning his attention to the company that made him a household name. Confident Investing Starts Here: The move was no doubt greeted enthusiastically by Tesla investors, who have grown frustrated with Musk's high-profile distractions since becoming Trump's 'first buddy.' But beyond the optics, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, a longtime Tesla bull, believes there's more at stake, pointing to broader strategic implications tied to Musk's renewed commitment. 'In our view,' Jonas noted, 'Tesla's expertise in manufacturing, data collection, robotics/ physical AI, energy, supply chain and infrastructure are more critical than ever before to put the US on an even footing with China in embodied AI.' Jonas points to China's rapid progress in humanoid robotics – what he calls the 'Humanoid Olympics.' After showcasing robots running a half marathon and competing in combat sports, China is now moving toward full-on humanoid games. 'China's gamification of robotic innovation is accelerating its path to AI supremacy,' says Jonas, who wonders if the US should fight back with a 'Humanoid Ninja Warrior.' The specter of Chinese EV maker BYD looms large too. The company announced significant price reductions across its entire lineup recently – ranging from 10% to nearly 30%. Notably, the price of its budget-friendly Seagull model was slashed to just RMB 55,800 (under $8,000). 'If you want evidence of the 'race to the bottom' in global EV prices, look no further,' says Jonas. The analyst also wonders if Musk might be having a change of heart regarding one possible business venture. For years, he has dismissed the idea of Tesla building eVTOLs or drones, pointing to concerns like noise, privacy issues, public nuisance, and inadequate battery energy density. However, during a recent all-hands meeting, when asked about the possibility of making a plane, Musk paused before replying that the company is currently 'stretched pretty thin.' 'In our opinion,' says Jonas, 'that's a decidedly different type of answer. Is Tesla an aviation/defense-tech company in auto/consumer clothing?' As for the upcoming Cybercab launch, slated for June 12, as with most highly anticipated Tesla events, Jonas thinks it's best to keep a lid on expectations. That said, he'll be watching closely for ongoing updates in the following days and weeks – particularly regarding network performance and growth metrics like vehicle count, mileage, and trip volume. All in all, Jonas remains on TSLA's side, assigning an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating with a $410 price target, implying potential upside of 18% from current levels. (To watch Jonas's track record, click here) That's a bull's take, but not one the majority of Wall Street analysts share; TSLA stock only claims a Hold consensus rating, based on a mix of 16 Buys, 10 Holds and 11 Sells. Going by the $282.70 average price target, a year from now, shares will be changing hands for an 18% discount. (See TSLA stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hegseth Talked Big Game to Indo-Pacific Allies—but Trump Mistrust Runs Deep
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2025. Credit - Ore Huiying—Bloomberg/Getty Images Against the backdrop of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance's jaw-dropping polemic against European democracies at February's Munich Security Conference, this was a welcome return to sense, if not Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a powerful though measured speech at Singapore's IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, pointedly calling out 'Communist China' for its 'massive military build-up, … grey zone tactics, and hybrid warfare,' while also hailing the strength and importance of America's regional alliances and using the word 'peace' 27 times. 'President Trump is a leader of peace, a man of peace, a force for peace,' Hegseth told the scores of Asia-Pacific defense and military chiefs crammed into the ballroom at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel. 'And together, we will achieve that peace through strength.' Hegseth repeatedly called the Indo-Pacific 'our priority theater' and, in a marked departure from Vance, actually praised European nations for hiking defense spending as an example that their Asian counterparts should emulate. 'It was quite surprising that he used Europe as a reference in terms of GDP [defense] spending,' Micael Johansson, president and CEO of the Swedish arms manufacturer Saab, told TIME. 'But it was a good speech and more collaborative than I had expected.' As Hegseth described it, American defense policy was now that Europe's security would be left to Europeans, while the U.S. was focusing its rebuilt military might—augmented by a $1 trillion defense spend next year, a 13% year-on-year rise—on the Indo-Pacific. This would focus on boosting America's forward force deployment, helping allies and partners strengthen their security capabilities, and rebuilding defense industrial bases including within friendly nations. 'A strong, resolute, and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,' said Hegseth. Hegseth also unleashed several broadsides against China, accusing strongman President Xi Jinping of having 'ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027,' with the former Fox News anchor warning that an assault on the self-ruling island—which politically split from the mainland following China's 1945–49 civil war—'could be imminent.' These remarks drew the inevitable rebuke from Beijing, which issued a statement saying Hegseth 'vilified China with defamatory allegations' that were 'filled with provocations and intended to sow discord.' Beijing also warned that Washington 'must never play with fire on [the Taiwan] question,' which is 'entirely China's internal affair.' Notably, China's defense minister stayed away from the annual security summit for the first time since 2019. Admiral Dong Jun was rumored to have been under a corruption investigation amid a sweeping purge of high-ranking PLA officers, though latest reports suggest that he's been cleared. The Chinese delegation that did attend treated Hegseth's accusations with scorn. 'He used a very strong, harsh tone, which surprised me a little, and it's unconstructive and hypocritical,' says Prof. Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Beijing's Tsinghua University. 'Because the U.S. is imposing high tariffs on regional countries, so how can you expect them to partner with you against another economic power?' Indeed, Trump's internecine global trade war was the glaring elephant in the room. Asked about the 'reciprocal tariffs' imposed in April, Hegseth joked: 'I am happily in the business of tanks, not trade, and I will leave that discussion to the man who knows how to do it best.' Which was the ultimate takeaway for the brass hats present. Hegseth's statement of commitment to the region and working with allies was broadly welcomed but hedged by the chaotic approach of the guy he reports to. Indeed, Hegseth showed his hand when he admitted: 'My job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf.' Delegates in Singapore were only too aware that today, more than during any other U.S. administration, power rests with just one man, whose constant policy flip-flops—embarrassing Zelensky before lambasting Putin; ripping up one Iranian nuclear deal before seeking another; hiking and pausing tariffs—have conjured a bevy of TACO, 'or Trump always chickens out,' memes as well as the impression that American words have never been cheaper. 'I'm quite sure it's just talk,' one European delegate said of Hegseth's speech. A Bangladeshi military officer agreed: 'It still feels like Trump is a more inward-looking than global President.' Write to Charlie Campbell at
CNBC
an hour ago
- CNBC
Europe stock markets set for negative start to week after Trump doubles steel tariffs
Good morning from London, where futures data from IG suggest stock markets will nudge higher at the open — following declines in France, Germany and Italy. U.S. tariffs will be in focus yet again this week, after President Donald Trump said Friday that he will double tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50% on June 4. The European Union criticized the move over the weekend, saying it undermines wider trade negotiations and will lead to higher costs for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Investors will also be monitoring any developments in trade talks between the U.S. and China, which soured last week. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett suggested Sunday that Trump and China's President Xi Jinping could have a conversation as soon as this week. Skyline view of the City of London financial district from the viewpoint in Greenwich Park in London, United Kingdom. Mike Kemp | In Pictures | Getty Images China on Monday refuted Washington's claims that it had broken the Geneva trade agreement, instead accusing the U.S. for breaching deal terms, signaling talks between the worlds top two economies have taken a turn for the worse. Trade frictions between Washington and Beijing have flared up after a hiatus following a meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng in Geneva, Switzerland, that had led them to suspend most tariffs on each other goods for 90 days. The Trump administration has ratcheted up export restrictions on semiconductor design software and chemicals to China, while announcing it would revoke visas for Chinese students, drawing ire from Beijing. Read the full story here. —Anniek Bao
