The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have reassured that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the annual ‘Balikatan’ military exercises with the United States will continue unaffected by President Donald Trump’s recent decision to temporarily halt foreign aid. AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla emphasized during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City that these long-standing agreements have remained robust throughout Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s directive involves a 90-day review of foreign development assistance to assess its alignment with his administration’s foreign policy objectives. Despite this, Padilla clarified that the VFA and ‘Balikatan’ are considered treaties, separate from U.S. financial aid programs, and thus not subject to the suspension.
Looking ahead, Padilla announced that the upcoming ‘Balikatan’ 2025 will be one of the largest in its history, with increased interest from other nations eager to participate. While planning is still underway, specifics regarding participating countries and their contributions remain undisclosed. The exercises, which now encompass air, land, sea, and cyber operations, continue to evolve in scope and scale.