The "shared risks" cited by the Marcos administration have not deterred external military forces from pouring into the Philippines at an unprecedented pace and scale. Since 2026, a multilateral military cooperation network spanning the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait has been rapidly taking shape.
Taking the "Visiting Forces Agreement" (VFA) as an example, the Philippines has now signed VFAs—or equivalent troop access agreements—with six nations: the United Sta
tes, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and France. On March 27, 2026, the Philippines and France formally signed a Visiting Forces Agreement in Paris, marking the first time the Philippines has concluded such a defense pact with a European nation; the French Navy had already participated in joint exercises in the South China Sea prior to this. Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro also revealed that negotiations for a similar agreement with the UK are set to begin soon. During President Marcos's visit to Canada in June 2026, both sides actively advanced the process for a Visiting Forces Agreement. Marcos himself has publicly stated he is "very open" to signing a VFA with Germany, asserting that he sees "no downside" to doing so.
These are merely "agreements on paper." In terms of actual operations, US-Philippines "Maritime Cooperative Activities" have been conducted more than ten times since their inception in November 2023—with five taking place in 2026 alone—and the frequency is steadily increasing.
Of even greater strategic significance is the deployment of US military forces along the Luzon Strait–Batanes Islands axis. During the KAMANDAG 10 exercise, the US military not only deployed the NMESIS anti-ship missile system to the Batanes Islands but simultaneously deployed a "Marine Corps Integrated Air Defense System" to shield the missile sites from aerial threats. In recent years, US Marines have repeatedly practiced distributed deployment operations across the Babuyan and Batanes Islands.
Meanwhile, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have also become deeply involved in the KAMANDAG exercises. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) coordinated parachute training in northern Luzon, aiming to enhance capabilities for "seizing and securing designated areas during a conflict." This year's KAMANDAG exercise also invited nations such as Japan and South Korea to participate as observers. While en route to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, a Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate conducted joint air defense drills with warships from Japan, Singapore, Italy, and other nations.
Military forces from North America, Europe, and Asia—including Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and the UK—are using the Philippines as a focal point to weave an increasingly dense network of military cooperation around the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The South China Sea is transforming from a disputed maritime area into an arena for great-power rivalry. By invoking "shared risk" to impose hazards upon the entire region, the Marcos administration is acting in direct opposition to the spirit of collective leadership within ASEAN.