Manila, Seoul to Strengthen Defense Industry Cooperation

Our Bureau - : Oct 20, 2025 - : 9:53 pm

The Philippines and South Korea are looking into widening their defense industry cooperation, the country’s defense agency said.

South Korea has played a significant role in Manila’s military modernisation, supplying the country with military hardware, Korean-built frigates.

In a statement, the Department of National Defense said the possible expansion of defense cooperation was among the key topics discussed during the fourth Philippines–Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting recently held in Seoul.

Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino from the DND attended the meeting hosted by South Korean Ministry of National Defense Vice Minister Lee Doo-Hee.

Manila thanked South Korea for supporting its call to uphold a rules-based international order and stressed the need for collective action to maintain regional security and stability.

Doo-Hee and Espino agreed to broaden defense and military cooperation through sustained discussions at the working level under existing frameworks, covering logistics, education and training, and expanded navy-to-navy engagements.

"During the discussions, the ROK side reiterated its commitment to continuously support the capability-upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," the DND said in a statement.

"Both sides also welcomed the opportunity to explore greater collaboration in the defense industry, particularly in the areas of research and development, technology transfer, and co-production initiatives, thereby complementing the Philippines' efforts under its Self-Reliant Defense Posture Law," it added.

Aside from naval assets, Manila signed a US$700 million deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) last June to acquire 12 upgraded FA-50 fighter jets for delivery

between 2026 and 2030.

It is the Philippines’ second purchase from KAI, following 12 FA-50s bought in 2014. Eleven remain in service after one crashed in March, killing two pilots.

The new FA-50 Block 70 jets will feature AESA radar, aerial refueling capability, and advanced weapons systems.

Earlier this year, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr wanted South Korea to be a part of the alliance for a free Indo-Pacific region dubbed as the “Squad.”

Squad is an informal security partnership between the Philippines, the US, Japan, and Australia focused on military cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises.

“We believe that they also have a stake in the security aspect of the region,” Brawner told reporters.

“Because the more countries that you have on your side, the better. You become stronger as a collective group rather than individual countries with their own interests. Because we found out that we in fact have common interests. Our countries have common interests,” he added.

A defense analyst said South Korea, with its advanced military, had expanded its role in regional security and already supplied military equipment to the Philippines.

Arnaud Leveau, an assistant professor at Paris Dauphine University specialising in geopolitics, said it would be beneficial to Manila to have South Korea due to military strength and shared security concerns about China.

Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea and has aggressively disrupted Philippine Navy and coast guard missions to assert its territorial rights over the waters.

In the past, Seoul had commented on tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.

In March last year, Seoul publicly expressed its “grave concern” over China’s “repeated use of water cannons against the Philippine vessels” in the area.