Latest news with #ArmedForcesofthePhilippines
GMA Network
a day ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
US provides additional P13.8-million relief aid for Philippines
The United States is providing P13.8 million more in relief aid to the Philippines to support the government's disaster response efforts in areas affected by severe floodings caused by tropical storms and an enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) last July. Additional funding will provide emergency shelter assistance and hygiene kits to more than 3,000 families, or about 15,800 individuals, housed in evacuation centers in Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga, the US Embassy in Manila said Friday. The second tranche of aid from Washington brings the total amount of its assistance to P27.6 million or $500,000. US military air assets were also sent to the country to help the the Armed Forces of the Philippines deliver 6,300 food packs for 18,000 residents in remote areas in the northern Philippine province of Batanes. 'Although flooding has subsided in most areas, thousands of families remaining in evacuation centers continue to face significant challenges,' US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Robert Ewing said. 'We are grateful to be working alongside our partners, including IOM, the World Food Programme, the Philippines' Office of Civil Defense, and the DSWD, to help affected families recover and rebuild.' More than 1.8 million families were affected by the disaster and around 20,000 remain in temporary government shelters, according officials. Evacuees will receive shelter-grade tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, and essential household supplies to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed, the embassy said. Each shelter repair kit contains basic construction tools and materials to help families begin rebuilding their homes. To promote health and sanitation and improve living conditions in evacuation centers, families will also receive hygiene kits containing soap, buckets, and cleaning supplies. The IOM or the International Organization for Migration will monitor the condition of hygiene and sanitation facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of affected families, the embassy said. — Michaela Del Callar/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
PH to buy more BrahMos missiles from India as deterrent amid regional tensions
The Philippines will procure additional BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India to boost the country's defense capabilities, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. In an interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost, Marcos said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) needs more missile batteries in response to the security challenges in the region. 'I've spoken to the officers and men who operate the BrahMos system, and they say we need more,' Marcos said. The President is in India for a five-day state visit from August 4 to 8. He said he was thankful that the missiles have not been used so far but noted the military's confidence in the system following training and demonstration exercises. 'From the demonstrations that they've seen, from the training that they've received both in India and in the Philippines, the practice runs that they've done, they seem terribly confident in the equipment,' he said. While the procurement is not included in the Department of National Defense's 2025 budget, Marcos said the government is already working on acquiring more units. If Congress includes the procurement in the 2026 national budget, delivery could take place by 2028. The President stressed that the move is part of the ongoing AFP modernization program and not a preparation for war. 'We are not gearing up for war. We are simply reacting to the challenges that we are facing,' he said. The Philippines received its first BrahMos missile system in April 2024, becoming the first foreign buyer of the supersonic anti-ship missile developed by Indo-Russian firm BrahMos Aerospace. The second batch arrived in April 2025. The government acquired three missile batteries worth P18.9 billion under the Philippine Navy's Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile Acquisition Project, which was conceptualized in 2017 and formalized in 2021. The Philippine Army also plans to acquire BrahMos missiles under its Land-Based Missile System Acquisition Project, originally scheduled for 2023 but moved to 2027. In 2024, the United States Army deployed its Typhon missile system to an undisclosed area in northern Luzon during joint military exercises with the Philippines.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Philippines President Marcos Signals 'New Phase' in India Ties, Open to More BrahMos Purchases
Last Updated: Marcos confirmed that Philippines is in the process of procuring additional BrahMos missiles, citing the recent tensions with China at the disputed South China Sea. Philippines' President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr, who is on a five-day state visit to India, said his first trip to New Delhi was 'very productive" and expressed willingness to purchase more BrahMos missiles and other military equipment from India amid tensions with China. In an interview with Firstpost Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Marcos said the relationship with India is entering 'a new phase" as part of efforts to build a 'strategic partnership" and stressed that Manila must upgrade its equipment to be interoperable with partners. He also confirmed that Philippines is in the process of procuring additional BrahMos missiles, stressing that 'all options are on the table" when it comes to modernising Philippines' armed forces. His government has also contacted Indian counterparts to understand how the system was deployed effectively in recent conflicts. Marcos Praises India For Op Sindoor Marcos also commended India's role in Operation Sindoor, highlighting it as proof of the value of joint exercises and the importance of a coalition of like-minded nations. He said that while Philippines was 'not preparing for war", is strengthening military preparedness in response to regional challenges, most notably with China's expansionist claims in the South China Sea. He also welcomed India's growing role in the Indo-Pacific and praised the performance of Indian military equipment. Philippines recently conducted a joint naval sail and military drills with the Indian Navy in the disputed South China Sea for the first time. Indian Navy ships that took part included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. India and the Philippines also decided to elevate their ties to a Strategic Partnership with and both sides agreed for the expeditious conclusion of the negotiations of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and the Philippines for further promotion of mutual trade. Marcos On China Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner on Monday said that the joint naval sail and exercises had been successful and raised hopes of Filipino forces engaging with India's military in more joint manoeuvres in the future. 'We are not against anyone. We are for defending our territory," Marcos told Firstpost, adding that any unilateral attempt to alter boundaries must be opposed. He also warned of the risks of escalation due to 'some guy pressing the wrong button," and underlined the need for open communication lines. While holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Marcos said the issue of China came up, but the conversation was 'tangential", adding that Manila was 'not a puppet state" and that its alliances were driven by its own strategic needs. 'Why should we turn down partners who also face the Chinese threat?" he asked, adding that the Philippines 'will not cede one square inch of territory" and 'will not give up on our sovereignty." China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with maritime zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Despite an international tribunal saying that China's sweeping claims have no basis under international law, Beijing continues to enforce its claims. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Ferdinand Marcos philippines view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 06, 2025, 19:50 IST News world Philippines President Marcos Signals 'New Phase' in India Ties, Open to More BrahMos Purchases Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Diplomat
3 days ago
- Business
- The Diplomat
Philippines and India Announce Establishment of Strategic Partnership
The announcement came shortly after the two nations held their first joint naval exercise in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines and India have announced the establishment of a 'strategic partnership,' following bilateral talks between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. The two leaders presided over the signing of 13 bilateral agreements, including a declaration on the new strategic partnership and an 'action plan' for its implementation up to 2029. According to the declaration, the strategic partnership, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and India, 'marks a new chapter towards realizing the full potential for bilateral, regional and international cooperation between the two countries.' It then laid out a long list of goals, ranging from defense and security matters to trade, connectivity, political cooperation, and people-to-people relations. 'Today, our relationship enters a new epoch,' Marcos said in a joint press conference after his meeting with Marcos at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. 'India becomes only the fifth strategic partner of the Philippines.' Defense cooperation, particularly in the maritime domain, will form a core part of the strategic partnership, underpinned by a shared concern about China's growing maritime capability, and its aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Earlier this week, the Indian and Philippine navies concluded their first joint exercise in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have clashed repeatedly over the past few years. The two-day drills, which took place off the western coast of the Philippines, included 'a comprehensive series of high-level naval operations aimed at strengthening tactical coordination and joint maritime capability,' according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Speaking to the press, Modi described the Philippines as an important partner in India's 'Act East Policy' and 'Mahagasar' vision, both of which aim to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia, to promote regional stability, and to counter China's growing influence in the region. 'Strengthening defense relations is a symbol of deep mutual trust, and as maritime nations, maritime cooperation between the two countries is both natural and essential,' Modi told the press after his meeting with Marcos at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Indian leader said that his country is 'committed to peace, security, prosperity, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region' and 'supports freedom of navigation in accordance with international laws.' India is also in talks with the Philippines for the development of submarine infrastructure, the Indian Foreign Ministry said at a media briefing yesterday. The strategic partnership declaration lays out plans to institutionalize joint military exercises, enhance cooperation in maritime security, promote the 'co-development and co-production of defense equipment,' among other things. While not mentioning China by name, the declaration expressed 'concern for the situation in the South China Sea particularly with regard to coercive and aggressive actions that impact on regional peace and stability.' It also stated that the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, which supported most of the Philippines' claims and stated that China's maximalist claims have no ruling under international law, is 'final and binding' and formed 'the basis for resolving disputes in accordance with international law.' The new strategic partnership gives firm shape to the growing strategic alignment between the two nations. Last year, India revised its position on the 2016 South China Sea ruling, moving from acknowledgment to active calls for adherence. The Philippines is also the foreign country to purchase India's Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, the second batch of which were delivered to the country in April of this year. Manila is also reported to be in talks for the purchase of the shorter-range Akash missile. In addition to ramping up maritime cooperation, Marcos told the press that the two nations will begin negotiations of a bilateral preferential trade agreement in a bid to 'shepherd our commerce… towards a continued upward trajectory and expanded basket of goods.' The Philippines and India engage in relatively modest amounts of trade, which totalled around $3.3 billion in 2024. The two nations have also agreed to introduce visa-free entry for their respective nationals. According to The Inquirer, the Philippines has previously established strategic partnerships with Japan (2015), Vietnam (2015), Australia (2023) and South Korea (2024).
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
India and the Philippines Stage Joint Naval Drill in the Disputed South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — India and the Philippines have staged joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time, a high-profile military deployment that antagonized China. Beijing has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian democracies and a long-running regional rivalry with New Delhi. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said Monday that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises which began Sunday went successfully, and expressed hopes that Filipino forces could engage India's military in more joint maneuvers in the future. Asked if Chinese forces carried out any action in response, Brawner said without elaborating that 'we did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed. We expected that already.' Two Chinese navy ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, were spotted about 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) from one of two Philippine navy frigates that participated in the joint sail on Sunday, the Philippine military said. The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said it conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Sunday and Monday and added that it remains resolute in defending China's territory and maritime rights and interests. Without mentioning India by name, the Southern Theater Command accused the Philippines of drawing in outside countries to organize joint patrols that it said undermine regional peace and stability. China's Foreign Ministry said territorial disputes should be resolved by those directly involved without any third-party intervention. China has a longstanding land border dispute with India in the Himalayas, which sparked a monthlong war in 1962 and a number of deadly firefights since then. Separately, Beijing's expansive claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route, have led to tense confrontations with other claimant states, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the contested waters. The Philippines has staged naval patrols in the disputed waters with its treaty ally, the United States, and other strategic partners including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and France to promote freedom of navigation and overflight and strengthen deterrence against China. It has allowed journalists to join territorial sea and aerial patrols to witness China's increasingly aggressive actions, provoking angry Chinese reactions. In response to a question last week about Manila's plans to build up military cooperation, China's Ministry of National Defense called the Philippines a 'troublemaker' that has aligned itself with foreign forces to stir up trouble in what China deems its own territorial waters. Brawner said the Philippines has to boost deterrence to prevent war. 'The way to do that is, number one, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has to be strengthened through modernization, and secondly, we need to partner with like-minded nations and that's what we're doing with India,' he said last week. During a reception on board an Indian navy tanker, the INS Shakti, on Thursday, Brawner said the vessel's port call in Manila was more than ceremonial. It 'sends a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific,' he said. Brawner welcomed the deepening of relations between the two Asian countries and 'reaffirmed the shared commitment to maritime security, regional stability and a rules-based international order in one of the world's most geopolitically sensitive regions.' Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos left Monday for a five-day state visit to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials to boost defense, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and pharmaceutical industry engagements.
