Military-technical cooperation between the USA, Japan, and the Philippines

The subject of the research is the development of military-technical cooperation between the USA, Japan, and the Philippines from 2022 to 2024. The study examines specific mechanisms and directions of this interaction, including: the intensification of the US-Philippines alliance and the evolution of Japan-Philippines relations in the field of security; the formation and institutionalization of a new trilateral partnership between the USA, Japan, and the Philippines; the consideration of cooperation as an element of a broader strategy to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region; the analysis of the reasons for the rapprochement of the three countries, the key one being the response to the increasing military-political pressure of China in the South China Sea; and the exploration of the shift in the foreign policy course of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which is expressed in the departure from the balancing policy of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and a decisive return to a close alliance with the USA. The research is based on the following methods: Comparative-historical analysis: Comparing the policies of Philippine President F. Duterte's administration (2016–2022) and the succeeding administration of F. Marcos Jr. regarding relations with China and traditional allies. Systemic approach: Placing trilateral cooperation in the context of a broader regional dynamic, including China's actions in the South China Sea. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the following: A comprehensive analysis of the new trilateral configuration: The work offers a systematic analysis of the formation of the USA-Japan-Philippines partnership as an independent and significant format of regional security, often characterized as a step towards creating a "mini-NATO" in Asia. Identification of synergy between military-technical and economic cooperation: The analysis goes beyond the purely military sphere, demonstrating how infrastructure projects (the "Luzon" economic corridor) and logistics create a sustainable basis for a military-political alliance. The conclusion of this article is the identification of the formation of a strategic triangle. Military-technical cooperation between the USA, Japan, and the Philippines has transformed from a set of bilateral ties into a cohesive trilateral partnership, institutionalized at the highest level (summit in Washington in April 2024) and supported by specific military, economic, and infrastructure initiatives.

USA, China, Japan, Philippines, military-technical cooperation, trilateral partnership, Indo-Pacific region, alliance, South China Sea, counteraction