AFP: Existing military training with allies ‘enough’ to respond to evolving security dynamics

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the country’s existing military training and exercises with like-minded nations remain sufficient to address the evolving international security environment, particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Speaking at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Philippines continues to conduct a range of unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral military activities throughout the year, carefully planned according to prevailing security conditions.

“Yes, we have our different activities, exercises—unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral—which we conduct all year round,” Trinidad said. 

“These are conducted in areas that are designated early on based on the current security situation. So rest assured that these exercises will be conducted and these are responsive enough to the dynamics of the region,” he added. 

Trinidad emphasized that countries participating in multilateral cooperation activities (MCAs) are among those that consistently support the Philippines’ efforts in the WPS. 

He underscored that the United States (US), with which the Philippines has a Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), remains a key security partner.

Statements from the United States Embassy in Manila, he noted, have repeatedly reaffirmed that the MDT between the Philippines and the US is “ironclad.”

“[There are] efforts by the United Front Works of the Chinese Communist Party to sow doubt in the minds of Filipinos that the US is not a reliable treaty partner,” Trinidad said. 

“[However], actions in the West Philippine Sea and our various multilateral exercises, where the US strongly participates, reinforce that this treaty is definitely ironclad,” he further noted. 

When asked whether recent US actions in other regions, such as the issue in Venezuela, affect the Philippines’ confidence in its treaty ally, Trinidad declined to comment on matters beyond the region.

“I would like to focus on the actions of our treaty ally and other like-minded nations here in the West Philippine Sea. On matters beyond the region, I defer to the appropriate government agency,” he said. 

Trinidad was further asked to comment on whether broader geopolitical tensions, particularly involving China, could affect regional dynamics. He said the AFP remains ready for all contingencies.

“Your Armed Forces is prepared for any eventuality across the spectrum of conflict—from peace, crisis, to wartime—whether human-induced or by nature, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response, or any crisis arising out of West Philippine Sea issues,” he said.

Trinidad maintained that the country’s security posture is defensive in nature and anchored on international law, while continuing to deepen cooperation with allies and partners to safeguard national sovereignty and regional stability.