Washington: The United States Senate has approved a bill authorizing the allocation of USD2.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines for 2026 to 2030. Under the proposed Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), which is now up for President Donald Trump's signature, the US will earmark up to USD500 million annually to help develop the country's capabilities over a span of five fiscal years.
According to Philippines News Agency, the bill was passed by the US Senate on December 17 as part of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It is intended to deepen US-Philippines defense cooperation while strengthening interoperability to address growing threats in the Indo-Pacific. US Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) emphasized the importance of this cooperation amid security and prosperity challenges in the West Philippines Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
"This bipartisan bill will significantly increase US security assistance to the Philippines and profoundly strengthen and modernize the defense and deterrence capabilities of our Alliance. I'm pleased to see the Senate pass this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law," Hagerty stated.
US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also expressed anticipation for an enhanced Philippine-US security partnership once the measure is enacted. He highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation with regional partners to counter challenges and ensure security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Under PERA, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and other relevant department/agency heads, will submit an annual report to the US Congress detailing steps taken to enhance the US-Philippines defense relationship. This includes reporting on capabilities needed to modernize Philippine defense capabilities, such as coastal defense, long-range fires, integrated air defenses, maritime security, and more.
In a related development, Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) commander Gen. Ronald Clark reaffirmed the strong Army-to-Army relationship and interoperability during a bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan. A statement from the PA outlined discussions on territorial defense training, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response efforts.
The PA and USARPAC recently concluded the 14th Steering Committee Meeting, a planning activity for the upcoming Executive Steering Group Meeting at PA headquarters in Taguig City last November. The PA remains committed to strengthening ties with the US Army and maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region alongside other like-minded nations.
