Why the Philippines is critical to European security?
On September 10, the State Council of China announced the establishment of a so-called “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve” at Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal.
Far from being an act of environmental protection, this move was a weak attempt to legitimize Beijing’s baseless maritime claims in the South China Sea.
These claims were already rendered null and void by the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, which recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone.
Barely a week later, on September 16, a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-operated vessel was subjected to dangerous maneuvers and sustained water cannon attacks by Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels.
The Filipino vessel, BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, which was on a lawful humanitarian mission to deliver food, fuel and water to Filipino fisherfolk, sustained structural and electrical damage.
Worse, one Filipino crew member was left injured following the assault. To heighten tensions further, a Chinese warship announced the conduct of a live-fire exercise in the same vicinity on the same day, instilling fear among local fisherfolk.
These unlawful and provocative actions are not isolated incidents. They now form the baseline of Beijing’s ongoing gray-zone operations in Philippine waters—acts of harassment deliberately kept below the threshold of armed conflict but designed to intimidate, provoke retaliation and assert control.
Beyond these tangible encounters at sea, the Philippines is subjected to the full spectrum of asymmetric threats. Cyberattacks, AI-driven disinformation campaigns and persistent malign influence form part of this expanding toolkit of coercion. The country has become a frontline state in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, where threats are no longer confined to conventional warfare.
Two theaters, shared threats
These challenges are not unique to the Philippines. Across the Indo-Pacific, they manifest in different forms—from relentless cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns in Taiwan to constant intrusions around the Senkaku Islands.
Europe faces an equally precarious environment, largely shaped by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to threats ranging from drone incursions such as the recent incident in Poland to the sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.
The same asymmetric playbook that undermines stability in the Indo-Pacific is likewise being deployed in Europe—marked by lawfare designed to distort international norms, the targeting of critical infrastructure, and the militarization of emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence.
Imperative for cross-regional cooperation
As Stratbase Institute President Prof. Dindo Manhit emphasized in the recently concluded high-level conference organized by the Institute, in partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations, “the nations and the people of Europe and the Indo-Pacific share more things than one might imagine.”
Though separated by distance, he noted, changing times have narrowed the gaps and intertwined their present and future. “Partnership is not only ideal; it is vital in today’s interconnected world,” he stressed.
Echoing this call, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año underscored that “asymmetric threats demand symmetric unity and systematic actions.” He emphasized that, among other important alliances, strategic partnerships, and cooperation, Europe and the Indo-Pacific are no longer distant actors in navigating pressing issues and predicaments. Instead, they have become intertwined pillars of global security.
From the European perspective, James Crabtree of the European Council on Foreign Relations highlighted the importance of understanding the interconnections between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theaters, particularly among countries that share values and information. Only through such connections, he argued, can partners begin to develop meaningful solutions to shared challenges.
Rear Admiral Guillaume Pinget, Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Pacific, likewise stressed that “the need for a deeper dialogue between partners has never been more urgent, as is the strengthening of cross-regional cooperation,” reaffirming that France—being both a European and Indo-Pacific resident nation—is fully committed to working alongside like-minded states to safeguard an open, secure, and rules-based international order.
The Philippines as a critical link
Much like France, the Philippines is uniquely positioned to serve as a critical link between the Indo-Pacific and Europe’s security landscapes.
Sitting at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, the Philippines is more than a bystander—it is a strategic actor astride vital trade routes through which significant European exports and imports flow. It is home to submarine cables that connect major economic players such as the United States, the European Union and Japan.
It also offers hard-earned experience in building resilience against asymmetric threats: from pursuing and upholding the 2016 Arbitral Award to counter lawfare and coercion, to adopting a transparency strategy that has rallied international support and effectively countered Chinese narratives blaming the Philippines for tensions in the South China Sea.
Equally crucial is its growing network of alliances. In recent years, Manila has deepened ties through bilateral, minilateral and multilateral arrangements.
Most recently, on September 16, the United Kingdom formally expressed its desire to enter into a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines. This comes on the heels of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, defense cooperation arrangement with Germany, the Visiting Forces Agreement with New Zealand, and ongoing negotiations with Canada and France.
Another clear demonstration of the Philippines’ pivotal role was the most recent Balikatan 2025 exercises, which brought together not only the Philippines and the United States but also partners such as Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Colombia and Singapore, along with European nations including France, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and the Netherlands
Looking ahead, Manila’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026 presents another opportunity to assert itself as a leader in shaping regional security and economic cooperation.
Should it succeed in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027–2028, it would further solidify its commitment to multilateralism.
In an era when asymmetric threats continue to test the resilience of states and alliances, the Philippines is well positioned to serve as a vital link between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theaters, owing to its strategic location, its experience in standing up to an aggressive actor, its steadily expanding network of alliances, and, above all, its steadfast commitment to the rules-based international order.
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Linar-Mae Orbista is a program and research manager for defense and security at think tank Stratbase Institute.
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