U.S. Deploys Rotational Troops to the Philippines

Our Bureau - : Feb 9, 2026 - : 10:56 am

Washington, Manila’s longtime ally, has deployed a new U.S. Army rotational force to the Philippines, expanding the American footprint and increasing the risk of being drawn into tensions with China. “From the Chinese perspective…the United States is sending Army forces...

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“From the Chinese perspective…the United States is sending Army forces now to a country that's in very close proximity, to an area of obvious concern,” according to Dan Grazier, director of the National Security Reform Program at the Stimson Center.

“We're used to seeing Naval forces, and Marine forces and [the] Air Force in that part of the world. But now we're sending the United States Army to the Philippines…really close to Taiwan, which obviously [is of] interest for the Chinese."

Led by a lieutenant colonel, the new rotational force is “not a major commitment” in terms of personnel, Grazier said, but added that “sending the Army does show an increased level of commitment” to the region overall.

“The force’s mission focuses on strengthening our enduring army-to-army partnerships while improving infrastructure to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity for the U.S., our allies, and partners,” Col. Isaac Taylor, a spokesperson for US Army Pacific said in a statement.

“While the rotational force is not permanently assigned, this represents a shift from previous year’s iterative engagement cycle to a more sustained rotational presence, enabling deeper and more consistent collaboration with our Philippine Army counterparts.”

The new rotational force follows other, albeit more limited or more temporary, Army appearances in the Philippines. DoD Secretary Pete Hegseth previously announced the formation of a joint task force — U.S. Task Force: Philippines — in October last year.

The force consists of about 60 personnel from the Navy, Marines, and Army, but does not have any equipment or military warships, vehicles or aircraft assigned to it.

Manila and the United States are bound by the long-standing 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty that calls on both sides to help each other in times of aggression by an external power.

China / Philippines / United-states / Us-army-pacific /

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