Joint Vision Statement on U.S.-Philippines Defense Industrial Cooperation: A New Direction for U.S.-Philippines Defense Industrial Cooperation

Key Chapter Title List

1. Alliance Foundation and Security Cooperation Background
2. Objectives and Strategic Value of Defense Industrial Cooperation
3. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Unmanned Systems
4. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Munitions Components/Energetic Materials
5. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Critical Minerals
6. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Logistics Support
7. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Ship Maintenance and Repair
8. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Airspace Integration
9. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
10. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
11. Near-Term Priority Area for Cooperation: System Components and Spare Parts Production
12. Key Work Directions to Advance Cooperation

Document Introduction

This report originates from the Joint Vision Statement document jointly released by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Philippine Department of National Defense on March 28, 2025. Grounded in the longstanding and robust alliance between the United States and the Philippines, the document emphasizes the shared and steadfast commitment of both sides to achieving security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The report notes that U.S.-Philippines bilateral defense cooperation, anchored by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, has become a vital pillar of the continuously deepening partnership between the two nations. Within this framework, strengthening defense industrial resilience has been established as a shared interest in advancing regional and economic security and promoting mutual prosperity.

The core content of the report systematically outlines the specific pathways and priorities for U.S.-Philippines defense industrial cooperation. The document clearly states that deepening defense industrial cooperation aims to incentivize the timely production and maintenance of defense materiel, enhance interoperability between the two militaries, promote burden-sharing, and strengthen regional deterrence capabilities. More strategic industrial cooperation will contribute to building a more comprehensive, balanced, and enduring security partnership while creating economic opportunities. To this end, both sides have identified and established nine priority areas with near-term cooperation potential as focal points for concentrated effort.

These priority cooperation areas encompass a broad spectrum from high-end technology to foundational support, specifically including: production and logistics for unmanned systems; storage, complete round production, and logistics for munitions components/energetic materials; refining of critical minerals; logistics support; ship maintenance and repair; airspace integration; additive manufacturing (3D printing); aircraft maintenance and repair; and system components and spare parts production. This list reflects the strategic intent of both sides to strengthen supply chain resilience, enhance autonomous maintenance capabilities, and promote joint production.

To further advance the aforementioned cooperation, the report outlines four key work directions. First, both sides will seek to remove barriers to cooperation, incentivize participation, and improve the compatibility of industrial regulations and processes, particularly regarding technology transfer. Second, they will endeavor to identify and incorporate necessary enablers to ensure the resilience of industrial cooperation initiatives. Third, they will seek cooperation opportunities and incentives in new technologies, innovation, and demonstration/validation. Fourth, they will focus on identifying specific opportunities for military co-production, storage, refining, and logistics support.

This Vision Statement is intended to provide a basis for ongoing dialogue and explicitly states that it does not, in and of itself, constitute or create any rights or obligations under domestic or international law, give rise to any legal process, or constitute any express or implied legally binding or enforceable commitment. The United States and the Philippines plan to jointly drive progress in defense industrial cooperation based on these priorities, in conjunction with the Philippines' Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, and create conditions for multilateral cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience Partnership. This document provides an authoritative primary policy text for understanding the latest strategic alignment and practical cooperation planning of the U.S.-Philippines alliance in the field of defense industry.