THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it was eyeing to secure more agreements with friendly countries this year to bolster its capabilities to protect the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Around the world, there is an increase in different geopolitical activities. Naturally, that would also impact the West Philippine Sea,” Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“For the year 2026, the Department of [National] Defense and the AFP will continue its robust approach through defense diplomacy through modernization and capacity-building in order to allow us to be able to respond to… any challenge in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad added.
Trinidad also said in the past year, the Philippines had “strategic” partnerships with the United States (US), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada, “with more coming up.”
On Monday, the Stratbase Institute said a survey it commissioned showed that Filipinos trusted the US the most when it comes to helping protect the Philippines’ interests in the WPS, followed by Japan, Canada, Australia and South Korea.
For 2025, a total of eight multilateral maritime cooperative activities (MMCAs) and 12 bilateral maritime cooperative activities were conducted between the Philippines and its allies.
“So yes, there will be an increase in our multilateral engagement and exercises,” Trinidad said.
Asked if there will be new countries that will be taking part in the MMCAs, Trinidad said they do not telegraph their moves in advance.
“Again, the moment that these are finalized, you will be informed accordingly. We do not declare in advance our forthcoming activities,” the Navy official said.
For 2026, Trinidad expects the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to continue their robust approach for defense diplomacy through modernization and capacity building.
He added that this will allow the AFP to respond to any threat or any challenge in the WPS.
