Philippine Military Confirms U.S. Aid Pause Won’t Impact Key Military Agreements

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. The VFA, which encompasses the ‘Balikatan’ exercises, is considered a treaty and not part of the U.S. foreign assistance program that is currently under review. Padilla noted that only financial programs funded by the U.S. would be subject to this review, while the VFA has continued uninterrupted over the years. As the ‘Balikatan’ 2025 exercises approach, Padilla announced that this year’s event is expected to be one of the largest in history, with increased interest from other nations looking to participate actively. However, details on participating countries, their commitments, and the exact number of troops involved are still pending as planning continues. The ‘Balikatan’ exercises now include operations across air, land, sea, and cyber domains.