Artillery Marines from 1st Battalion, 12th Marines escort a Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System launcher vehicle ashore aboard Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, Aug. 16, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Luke Cohen, released) MANILA – The United States will deploy an anti-ship missile launcher in the Philippines as part of “several bold steps” to reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, a move agreed upon during US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Manila on Friday.

In a joint statement, the US and the Philippines said one of the key initiatives to accelerate its longstanding defense partnership is the deployment of more advanced US military capabilities in the Philippines. 

These include the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS)—a mobile, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher—and highly capable unmanned surface vessels.

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The training and testing of these systems will be integrated into the upcoming Balikatan exercises, the annual joint military drills between Philippine and US forces.

“These systems will enable US forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to train together on using advanced capabilities to defend Philippines’ sovereignty,” Hegseth said in a media briefing.

“The deployment of the NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) and other unmanned surface vehicles will hasten the introduction of these technologies into the vista of the Philippine Armed Forces and will train our troops to train for higher technological capabilities that we need for effective deterrence in the future,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

Additionally, the two countries agreed to conduct advanced Special Operations Forces training in Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines, which is closest to self-ruled Taiwan—a territory that the People's Republic of China claims as its own.

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Teodoro emphasized the need to reestablish deterrence in the region amid China’s continued belligerence in the South China Sea.

“This will mean increased interoperability activities, joint exercises, and realistic training in a myriad of scenarios to mirror what may be possible in the future,” Teodoro said.

Moreover, the Philippines and the US agreed to publish a bilateral defense industrial cooperation vision statement and launch a bilateral cybersecurity campaign.

“I can assure you, I can assure all those watching: This is just the beginning of what will continue to be an incredibly fruitful alliance,” Hegseth said.

“We have already set a robust agenda for the next few years. Our staff, both of us, are going  to remain actively engaged. It reflects the strength of our ironclad alliance, particularly in the face of communist China's aggression in the region,” the US official added.

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Hegseth, however, maintained that efforts to strengthen defense ties in the region are not aimed at provoking war, despite China’s criticism of the defense cooperation.

"We will achieve peace through strength. We do not seek war; we seek peace. But those who long for peace must prepare for war. And we stand united shoulder to shoulder,” Hegseth said.

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