March 28, 2025: “Ukrainization” of the Philippines continues as US announces deployment of their NMESIS Missile System to the Philippines
The new Defense Secretary of the United States (US) Pete Hegseth recently announced during his visit here in the Philippines the Deployment of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) for the upcoming BALIKATAN Exercise.
He also said that the US Special Operations Forces are set to train with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) in the Batanes Islands soon.
Here is the Link to the Article at the “US Department of Defense” Website: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4137869/united-statesphilippines-joint-statement-on-secretary-hegseths-inaugural-visit/
MY NOTES:
So the “Ukrainization” of the Philippines continues under the Administration of the “Volodymyr Zelensky” of Asia, Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) as more US Military Equipment and Forces are deployed to the Philippines.
‘Puro Giyera’ (All Activities are about “War”), as usual, and of course the Ears of the Filipino Dogs of the US are clapping together and they are experiencing utmost joy at this Announcement by their US Masters.
While all of the other South East Asian (SEA) Nations are busy trying to improve their Infrastructure and Economies, this Administration is just proud to sacrifice the Philippines to the Altar of War for the sake of US Interests in the Philippines.
On a Side Note, I do kinda like the NMESIS, mainly because it is a relatively small and light Mobile Unit consisting of an Unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (UJLTV) armed with two Naval Strike Missiles (NSM). Even though Western Military Weapons are expensive, I expect these to be relatively cheap due to their less Size and Complexity.
The NSM only has a range of around 250 km for the latest Version, which is less than the 290 km range of the BrahMos Missiles of the PMC. The NSM is also only subsonic, but it makes up for it by being stealthier, being made mostly out of Composite Materials.
The NSM can be used both as an Anti-Ship or Land Attack Weapon, but since it won’t be able to reach China when launched from anywhere in the Philippines, then China will likely not protest too much about it.
March 17, 2025: US Marines to start putting their Equipment in Subic Bay, Philippines not likely allowed to inspect what they bring in or store
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) announced recently that they will start "Prepositioning" or placing their their Equipment in Subic Bay. Last month of February 2025, they started leasing a 57,000 square feet Warehouse in the Area where their Equipment will be stored.
They said that they will only store Vehicles, Communications Equipment and Engineering Assets and that no Munitions will be stored in the Warehouse. They also said that the said Warehouse will only be used for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Operations.
MY NOTES:
As far as I know, the Philippines does NOT have the ability to inspect what they bring in or store into that Warehouse. The Philippines can REQUEST it, but the United States (US) has the power to allow or deny that request.
I don’t even think the Philippines inspects all the Shipments that are coming in there, much less conduct random Inspections into that Warehouse. THAT is how we are willingly SURRENDERING our Sovereignty to the US.
‘Pero pag Tsina, bira agad, wala ng tanong-tanong pa. WALA TAYONG “NATIONAL PRIDE” pagdating sa US, pag sa Tsina lang’ (But if the Issue is “China”, fire right away, don’t ask any Questions anymore. WE DON’T HAVE “NATIONAL PRIDE” when it comes to the US, only if it’s “China”)
You can access the Article at “US Naval Institute (USNI)” Website here: https://news.usni.org/2025/03/17/u-s-marines-to-stage-equipment-at-subic-bay-under-new-prepositioning-plan