The European Union has adopted its first-ever assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) for the Philippines, worth €15 million, to strengthen the maritime domain awareness capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The measure, announced on 24 July 2026 by High Representative Kaja Kallas following a meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., marks the first EPF measure to be implemented in the Indo-Pacific region. It will improve the Philippine Navy's ability to detect, monitor and analyse activities within the country's maritime zones, enhance early warning, and support more effective coordination and response by naval and maritime security forces.
Kallas and Teodoro reaffirmed the strength of the EU-Philippines partnership and exchanged views on current geopolitical challenges, as well as ways to further deepen security and defence cooperation. They welcomed the positive outcomes of the Security and Defence Dialogue launched in June 2025, which has advanced collaboration on maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and foreign information manipulation and interference. They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to a resilient, rules-based international order that upholds peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The assistance measure, proposed by Kallas and adopted by the Council of the European Union, is described by the EEAS as more than an investment in capabilities—it is an investment in the EU-Philippines partnership, in mutual trust, in regional stability, and in a shared commitment to peace and security. The measure directly impacts the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Navy, by providing equipment and training for maritime surveillance. It also strengthens the EU's security footprint in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing strategic importance. For EU member states, the measure represents a tangible use of the EPF outside its traditional neighbourhood, signalling a broader geopolitical ambition. Critics may question the precedent of extending EPF funding to the Indo-Pacific, potentially diverting resources from closer regions such as the Western Balkans or Africa. The measure is expected to be implemented over the coming months, with further details on procurement and training to be announced by the EEAS and Philippine authorities.