Philippines: Land Disputes Limit US Access to Bases
The deployment of US forces to Philippine bases is encountering practical obstacles. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the use of sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) remains limited, mainly due to unresolved land disputes and delays in development.
Available information indicates that some bases still lack basic capabilities, restricting their effective use.
Although EDCA allows for the rotation of US troops without a permanent presence, implementation has lagged in practice.
The expansion to nine sites, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2023, was intended to strengthen strategic cooperation, particularly in areas near Taiwan and the South China Sea. At the same time, it faces operational constraints. Teodoro acknowledged significant delays but did not identify specific locations.
The situation has come into focus during the ongoing Balikatan exercises, the largest to date, involving additional allies.