Philippines-US drills raise fears of drawing conflict closer
Michael Beltran
Critics of US-Philippines military cooperation argue that Manila's close alignment with Washington could turn the country into a target. This year's Balikatan exercise, involving over 17,000 troops from six nations, has sparked concerns among activists and local communities. The drills have also drawn China's warning against regional division and confrontation.
Quezon City, Philippines – The annual joint military exercise Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) between the United States and the Philippines this year brought together more than 17,000 troops from six countries, with the United States contributing the largest share at about 10,000 personnel, alongside Canada, Japan, Australia, France, and New Zealand. However, the scale and nature of the drills have raised concerns among the Philippine public about the risk of dragging the country into the vortex of conflict.
Fr. Arvin Mangrubang of the Philippine Independent Church in Ilocos Norte province, where drills often take place, said residents have grown accustomed to the sight of armored vehicles and US soldiers. “The constant presence of tanks, drones, and gunfire terrifies people, especially those living near military activity areas,” he told Al Jazeera.
Raymond Palatino, secretary-general of the Bayan coalition of activist groups, called for the Philippines to end joint exercises with the United States. “This is paving the way for the US war machine to expand its influence from West Asia to the East Sea,” Palatino said. Activists argued that the US military presence increases the risk of the Philippines becoming a target for Washington’s adversaries, dragging Filipinos into conflict like Gulf countries drawn into war with Iran.
In a statement, Bayan criticized: “The presence of US troops and weapons does not guarantee our safety. On the contrary, it increases the likelihood of death and destruction, including attacks from US rivals.”
On the military side, Philippine Major General Francisco Lorenzo Jr., the executive director of the Balikatan exercise, denied any link between the drills and the US war in Iran. A US military official also involved in running the exercise insisted the drills do not challenge anyone, particularly China – the US’s main military rival.
The Philippines is currently the largest recipient of US military aid in the Asia-Pacific region. From 2015 to 2022, Washington sent over $1.14 billion worth of military equipment, including aircraft, warships, armored vehicles, small arms, and training programs to the Philippines, along with more than 850 port visits and at least 1,300 military engagements with local forces. In December 2025, the US Congress approved a proposal to provide $2.5 billion in security assistance to the Philippines through 2030.
Professor Roland Simbulan, a US-Philippines relations expert at the University of the Philippines, said the Philippines now plays a critical role for Washington as its military bases here provide refueling, repair, communications, and intelligence services – what he called America’s ‘eyes, ears, and brain’ in Southeast Asia.
This year’s Balikatan exercise featured a notable highlight: for the first time, the United States and the Philippines test-fired a Tomahawk missile, flying 600 kilometers from Tacloban City to Nueva Ecija. The Makabayan coalition, an opposition bloc of lawmakers, criticized the missile launch, saying it is the same type of weapon the US is using to devastate Iran. “The Philippines is not a playground for US missiles and bombs that will be used to kill civilians elsewhere in the world,” the lawmakers said.
The drills also directly affect the livelihoods of local fishermen and farmers. The Philippine military declared a “no-go zone” lasting up to 11 days along certain coastal areas for the exercises. Ronnel Arambulo of Pamalakaya, a national federation of small-scale fishers, said the drills impact the livelihood of about 4,800 fishers in Subic Bay, Zambales province. Hilda Reyes, a member of the local Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council in San Antonio, Zambales, noted that while the military allows fishermen to go out for a few hours each day, many still fear stray bullets.
Amid the drills, tensions between China and the Philippines over the East Sea continue to escalate. On April 24, just days after Balikatan began, China’s Southern Theater Command conducted live-fire drills in the East Sea, east of the Philippine Luzon island group. The Chinese military said the exercises were aimed at “protecting national sovereignty.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned: “The last thing the region needs is division and confrontation driven by external forces. For countries that tie their security to others, they must remember that this could well backfire.”
