The United States has approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, worth about $5.58 billion, as part of efforts to strengthen military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, especially amid tensions with China.
The deal includes 16 F-16Cs for combat operations and four F-16Ds for training, providing a significant boost to the Philippine Air Force, which currently has just 12 South Korean-made FA-50 light fighters.
The announcement comes just days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manila and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to enhancing military cooperation and bringing more advanced combat capabilities to the Philippines.
China, meanwhile, has warned the Philippines against using defense cooperation to threaten regional stability, given rising tensions in the South China Sea and geopolitical dynamics in Asia.
