MANILA, Philippines — The United States will increase its security cooperation funding to accelerate the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), although Washington has yet to disclose the amount of the additional assistance.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the increase during a meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Cebu on Wednesday, according to a readout released by the US Department of War.
The additional funding aims to accelerate AFP modernization and improve interoperability between Philippine and American forces along the First Island Chain, a strategically important chain of islands in the western Pacific that includes the Philippines.
The US statement did not specify the amount of the increase, when the additional funds would become available or which modernization projects would receive support.
Hegseth and Teodoro also agreed to launch an Alliance Command and Control Modernization Sprint to improve real-time coordination between the two countries' armed forces and strengthen the resilience of their alliance.
They welcomed progress in operationalizing facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), including investments in critical infrastructure and storage facilities across the Philippines.
The announcement comes as the Philippines seeks to strengthen its military capabilities amid growing regional security challenges, particularly in the South China Sea.
Separately, the Marcos administration has proposed increasing the AFP modernization allocation in the 2027 national budget to P50 billion, from P40 billion in 2026.
The proposed P10 billion increase represents a 25 percent rise in Philippine government funding for the modernization program and is separate from the additional US security cooperation funds announced by Hegseth.
The Philippines and the United States have been strengthening their defense partnership through joint military exercises, expanded access to strategic facilities and efforts to improve coordination between their armed forces.
The latest funding announcement signals Washington's continued support for Philippine defense modernization.
