The U.S. and Philippine military commanders discussed the expansion of joint military exercises.

On Tuesday, February 11, U.S. and Philippine military generals held a phone conversation. They discussed ways to enhance the "scale and capabilities" of joint exercises amid ongoing tensions with China.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Bloomberg.

In addition to joint exercises, U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Charles Brown and his Philippine counterpart Romeo Brawner Jr. talked about initiatives for modernizing the armed forces and facilities in the Philippines that the U.S. military may access.

This conversation marks the latest interaction between the U.S. and the Philippines, as Manila (the capital of the Philippines) seeks to maintain a strong alliance with Washington under President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and American Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured their Philippine counterparts about the "unwavering" alliance between the two countries.

"The U.S. continues to work closely with the Philippines and remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance based on shared strategic interests and democratic values," the latest report states.

It is worth noting that in November 2024, the Philippines and China again disputed boundaries in the South China Sea.

Specifically, China defined a "baseline of territorial waters" around the reef that Beijing refers to as Huangyan Island. This reef is a key point in the dispute between the countries over sovereignty and fishing rights.