Abstract:
The period from 2021 to 2024 marked a significant transformation in the U.S.–Philippines defense
relationship amid intensifying U.S.–China strategic competition and growing tensions in the South
China Sea (known in Vietnam as the East Sea) . Rather than merely repre-senting the restoration of a
traditional alliance, this transformation reflected a broader strategic realignment shaped by evolving
regional security dynamics and changing foreign policy priorities in both Washington and Manila. This
article examines the drivers, manifesta-tions, and implications of this transformation for the bilateral
alliance and the regional security order in Southeast Asia. Drawing upon official government
documents, bilateral defense agreements, policy statements, and relevant scholarly literature, the study
employs his-torical and policy analysis to investigate key dimensions of defense cooperation, including
the expansion and implementation of the En-hanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the
U.S. military presence, joint military exercises, high-level defense dialogues, and U.S. support for the
modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The article argues that the transformation of
the U.S.–Philippines defense relationship was driven by the convergence of three major factors: the
intensifying strategic rivalry between the Unit-ed States and China, mounting maritime security
challenges in the South China Sea, and the Marcos Jr. administration's recalibration of the Philippines'
foreign and defense policy. These factors facilitated a shift from the policy uncertainty that
characterized the final years of the Duterte administration to a renewed phase of strategic alignment
under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This transformation was reflected in the expansion of EDCA
sites, the unprecedented scale of the Balikatan exercises, strengthened institutional defense cooperation, and more intensive strategic coordination between the two allies. The article concludes that the
renewed U.S.–Philippines defense partnership has significantly enhanced the Philippines' defense
capabilities and deterrence posture while simultaneously reinforcing the United States' Indo-Pacific
strategy. More broadly, the study argues that the transformation of the alliance has become an
important factor reshaping the strategic balance and regional security architecture in Southeast Asia,
with implications extending beyond bilateral relations to the evolving geopolitical order in the IndoPacific. |
