The Philippine and U.S. air forces commenced joint exercises on Monday, aiming to strengthen operational coordination and bolster “strategic deterrence,” according to the Philippine military.
The drills come amid months of tensions between Manila and Beijing over contested areas in the South China Sea. They also precede a significantly larger set of U.S.-Philippine air, land, and sea exercises scheduled for late April.
The Cope Thunder exercise will focus on “enhancing combat readiness and improving joint mission effectiveness,” Philippine Air Force commander Arthur Cordura stated Monday during the launch ceremony.
Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, military ties between the Philippines and the U.S. have grown stronger, with Manila pushing back against Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea—claims an international tribunal has ruled to be without merit.
Last week, the U.S. State Department approved a long-anticipated sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila clarified that the agreement remains “in the negotiation phase.”
Speaking at the launch ceremony, U.S. Major General Christopher Sheppard noted that “the pace of our alliance is accelerating.”
Cope Thunder, which runs until April 18, is designed to enhance “asymmetric warfare capabilities,” improve operational coordination, and reinforce strategic deterrence, the Philippine Air Force stated.
Cordura also highlighted that this exercise serves as a prelude to Balikatan, a larger joint drill, saying, “Further down the road, we look forward to the seamless transition to exercise Balikatan, which will continue to push the boundaries of our interoperability.”
Like many of the planned activities for Balikatan, Cope Thunder is being conducted in northern Luzon—the Philippine region closest to Taiwan.
Following China’s recent simulated blockade of Taiwan, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner warned troops last week that their country would “inevitably” be drawn into any potential conflict should the self-ruled island be invaded.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take it by force.
Manila later clarified that Brawner’s remarks primarily referred to potential efforts to evacuate Filipino workers in Taiwan. However, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the U.S., American forces have access to nine Philippine military bases, including a naval facility in Santa Ana, Cagayan—located about 400 kilometers from Taiwan.
During a recent visit to Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its alliance with the Philippines, saying the U.S. was “doubling down” on its support.
“Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country—considering the threats from the Communist Chinese,” Hegseth said on March 28.
