President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington, D.C. on July 20 for a high-stakes three-day visit to recalibrate Philippine-U.S. relations amid mounting economic and strategic pressures. The trip marks the first for an ASEAN head of state under President Donald Trump’s second term, and it comes just weeks before a steep 20% tariff on Philippine…
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington from July 20–22, marking a pivotal moment in Southeast Asia’s geopolitical posture. The summit comes amid rising tensions over Trump’s proposed 20% tariff on Philippine exports, which has rattled ASEAN economies and triggered calls for regional recalibration. 🧭 Strategic Implications…
Nauru’s bold push to initiate deep-sea mining in international waters has ignited a contentious debate at the United Nations, pitting economic sovereignty against environmental caution. At the heart of the controversy is Nauru’s partnership with The Metals Company, a Canadian firm seeking to extract polymetallic nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone—an area rich in cobalt, nickel,…
On July 16, the U.S. Navy began constructing two boat repair facilities in Palawan, a strategic move under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The expansion is seen as a direct counter to Chinese maritime aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This development underscores Manila’s pivot toward deeper defense ties with Washington, reinforcing its maritime…
apan’s July 16 defense white paper reasserts its territorial claims over the Senkaku Islands and maritime zones in the East China Sea, sparking diplomatic backlash from China and South Korea. This escalation highlights East Asia’s fragile balance of power and Japan’s resolve to defend its strategic interests.
The Asia-Pacific Policy Strategy Dialogue (APPSD) concluded in London with a resounding call for a new organising principle: “America First, Allies Always.” The summit, attended by defense and policy leaders from the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia, and South Korea, emphasized the need for integrated deterrence against the rising influence of the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis —…
In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…
In a bold assertion of maritime sovereignty, the Philippine Navy deployed two additional patrol vessels to the contested waters near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), following reports of Chinese coast guard ships allegedly harassing Filipino fishermen. The move comes on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the…
In a bold move underscoring the shifting priorities of U.S. defence policy, the Pentagon has formally requested that Japan and Australia clarify their roles in the event of a military conflict over Taiwan. Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby emphasised the need for “peace through strength,” urging allies to increase defence spending and…
On July 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Wonsan, solidifying a sweeping military pact that includes mutual defense provisions and direct support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Pyongyang reaffirmed its commitment to Moscow’s objectives, with Lavrov thanking the “heroic” North Korean troops already deployed to aid…