The United States is rotating four fast response cutters to patrol and secure the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) alongside the Philippine Coast Guard, a senior Pentagon official said Monday, underscoring Washington’s continued maritime support for Manila as it presses allies to take greater responsibility for their own security.
Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of War for Policy, disclosed the deployment during a keynote address at a Stratbase Institute event in Manila.
“We are backing up those investments with concrete, visible support, including the rotational deployment of four Fast Response Cutters to actively partner with the Philippine Coast Guard in patrolling and securing its Exclusive Economic Zone,” Colby said.
“By strengthening our joint posture, we are ensuring that both our nations possess the hard capabilities required to deter aggression,” he added.
The deployment involves Sentinel-class cutters of the U.S. Coast Guard and forms part of what Colby described as a broader modernization of the U.S.-Philippines alliance.
The announcement comes as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of their Mutual Defense Treaty, which obliges both sides to respond to an armed attack against either country.
Colby said the United States expects the Philippines to continue increasing its own defense investments while Washington provides concrete support.
“This is not a one-sided partnership — the Philippines is stepping up, taking the lead to defend itself, and investing more to modernize its military and coast guard,” he said.
He described the Philippines as a “model ally” under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Colby met Marcos during a courtesy call at Malacañang on Monday. Manila is the first stop of his first official Southeast Asian trip as undersecretary, with Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia next on his itinerary.
U.S. seeks partners, not dependencies
Colby also called for greater defense cooperation among U.S. allies but cautioned against arrangements that seek to exclude Washington.
He said countries should develop their defense industries and work more closely with one another, but these efforts should remain complementary to U.S. capabilities.
“We seek partnerships, not dependencies,” Colby said, adding that alliances should be built on shared responsibility rather than permanent reliance on the United States.
“We are looking for partners, not protectorates,” he said.
Colby also questioned the value of new maritime security frameworks if they do not translate into tangible military capabilities, saying their effectiveness should be measured by increased ships at sea, larger stocks of critical munitions and genuine interoperability.
He said countries could no longer assume that Washington would remain in relationships that were not clearly aligned with U.S. interests.
The remarks came as middle powers increasingly explore ways to strengthen security cooperation with less reliance on the United States.
The Philippines under Marcos has likewise broadened its defense partnerships beyond Washington, signing four new visiting forces agreements and opening formal talks for two more.
The rotational deployment of U.S. Coast Guard cutters adds another operational layer to the countries’ expanding maritime security cooperation, particularly as Manila continues to strengthen its ability to monitor and protect its maritime zones.
