The United States and the Philippines have finally signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement ( GSOMIA ), which will ease sensitive intelligence-sharing and cybersecurity cooperation in the event of a regional conflict with China.
In a weeklong visit to the Philippines, the defence chief even made the first open confirmation of a new joint task force established to control China in tense South China Sea territory.
The new US Task Force-Ayungin has been providing direct US operational support to the Philippine Navy and other relevant organizations since it was established to stop a forcible Chinese invasion of the Philippines ‘ de facto military base on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal ( Ayungin in Filipino ).
By enabling US troops to help Armed Forces of the Philippines ‘ actions in the South China Sea, Task Force-Ayungin improves US-Philippine empire coordination and portability, according to Kanishka Gangopadhyay, a spokesperson at the US Embassy in Manila, in a statement confirming the task agency’s life.
However, Philippine officials welcomed the GSOMIA as a vital step to help the South Eastern world’s “access to higher features and big-ticket products from the United States” and to pave the way for” similar partnerships with like-minded nations” in the region, including brother US allies Japan, South Korea and Australia.
A new mixed coordination facility, which houses the Philippines ‘ top military installations and Department of National Defense squat, was established by the US and the Philippines. In the event of a crisis, including a potential issue with Taiwan, the new center is expected to manage joint US-Philippine operations.
This facility will allow the sharing of real-time information with a typical operating system, and it will increase interoperability for a long time to come. During the breakthrough service, US defense chief Austin stated that it will be a place where our forces can collaborate to address local issues.
General Romeo Brawner Jr., the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP), described the new facility as” a critical connection for our mutual operations, a gate for information-sharing and proper coordination,” which will improve the two allies ‘ ability to collaborate in times of crisis and create a setting where our strengths and talents come together to protect peace and security in our region.
Austin also made a military visit to Palawan, a province on the south of the border, and the tense Spratly group of islands, where Asian troops control more than 50 features whose possession is disputed by China.  ,
During the visit, Austin observed the Philippine Navy’s deployment of T-12 unmanned surface vessels acquired through Washington’s foreign military financing ( FMF) program – a cornerstone of bilateral military cooperation.
The Pentagon has made it clear that it is required to intervene in the Philippines ‘ defense if any third party, specifically China, attempts to forcefully destroy the Philippines ‘ base located atop the Second Thomas Shoal, starting with the first Trump and continuing under the incoming Biden administrations.
Any attack on Philippine government sworn in, operated in the South China Sea, or the wider Pacific Ocean region, is covered by the 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty ( MDT ).
Any security pact with outside powers “must not ] target any third party or harm the objectives of any third group,” according to China’s foreign ministry, neither should it “untangle” regional harmony or “exacerbate regional conflicts.”
China criticized the growing Philippine-US military participation in a thinly veiled way, saying that” the only right choice is to preserve good neighborliness and friendship and keep proper independence.”
The Eastern power, however, you believe Manila did up its safety ties with the US under a Trump 2.0 management. The Philippines will likely play a key role in Trump’s administration’s pressure tactics on China with the appointment of Marco Rubio ( as secretary of state ) and Mike Waltz ( as national security adviser ).  ,  ,  ,
Ferdinand Marcos, the newly elected US head, apparently had a “very friendly and successful” conversation with him during his congratulations call.
The Filipino leader even went so far as to claim that the millions-strong Filipino-American community “overwhelmingly voted” for Trump and that” I’m sure]Trump ] will remember that when we see each other.’ ‘
Pre-election polls, however, have shown that, similar to other Asian-American groups, a healthy majority of Americans of Filipino descent actually favored outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris.
When Marcos traveled to the northwestern province of Catanduanes, which has been repeatedly stricken by super typhoons in recent weeks, most recently Man-yi, I was able to talk to him this morning and the Philippines was in his thoughts.
The president of the Philippines stated to the president that we are still trying to improve the relationship between our two countries, which is” a relationship that is as deep as can be because it has been for a very long time.”
On his end of the call, Trump reminded of his historical bonds with the Marcos family, dating back to their heyday in Manhattan, by asking after the leader’s mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who is now 95 years old. At one point, the Marcoses owned a Trump building.
” He is friends with my mother. He was well-versed in my mother. He asked about her.’ How is Imelda? ” I told him that she also sends her greetings”, Marcos said.
The two leaders apparently discussed no significant bilateral issues, including concerns about how a more stringent immigration policy could have a significant impact on a large number of Filipino-Americans who are residing in the US illegally.  ,
Despite the leader’s call for allies to pay more money for US security guarantees, the US is anticipated to increase defense aid to the Philippines under Trump’s leadership.
A newly released report by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that is expected to play an outsized role in Trump’s second administration, has called for the affordable transfer of high-end defense items, including F-16 fighters, as well as the deployment of state-of-the-art Terminal High Altitude Area Defense , ( THAAD ) system, to defense allies.
The US Typhon missile system, which was previously deployed to Philippine soil for joint military exercises but has n’t been redeployed to the US since, may also be a target for the Philippines. China has voiced serious criticism of the Typhon, which can travel from the Philippines to Chinan cities.
The new Trump administration will likely have little patience for any dilly-dallying by key allies, especially in front-line nations like the Philippines.
For instance, Marcos Jr. has not yet stated his position on a potential emergency in neighboring Taiwan, and he has shied away from direct, high-level military action in Taipei or US-led strategic alliances to a future Chinese kinetic attack on the self-governing island.  ,
Additionally, there are numerous significant-scale strategic Chinese investments in the Philippines. Overall, Marcos Jr.’s administration has attempted to avoid fully aligning with Washington by maintaining generally good relations with Beijing, a major trading partner.
However, it is anticipated that a second Trump administration will pressure Asian allies to declare their support for the US in order to advance regional orderkeeping.
” Hedging does n’t make sense ]since ] geopolitically and from a defense perspective I would not hedge, because you are too important ]as a frontline state ] …]so] pick a side and make sure you are not a’ no man’s land'”, Elbridge Colby, a key architect of Trump’s National Defense Strategy, told this writer earlier when asked about Southeast Asian states ‘ unwillingness to pick a side in between the two superpowers.
” Being half-pregnant is a bad idea, half-measures are dangerous”, the former US deputy assistant secretary for defense said.
Follow Richard Javad Heydarian on X at @Rich Heydarian