A Philippine Navy official clarified Tuesday that the deployment of the United States’ Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) during the Kamandag 2025 joint military exercises is not intended to target any specific country or threat.
“The objective is to enhance our capability to conduct joint or combined operations with other Marine Corps units or allied nations. It is not directed at specific threats or ongoing issues near the area where it will be deployed,” said Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
On Monday, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) officially launched this year’s iteration of Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (Kamandag) exercises.
PMC Commandant Major General Arturo Rojas said the NMESIS is scheduled to be used in live-fire drills in Northern Luzon, depending on favorable weather conditions.
“We will be using the NMESIS also to be able to learn and sustain what we did in the past Balikatans. The event, which is included in Kamandag, will be conducted as well,” Rojas told reporters during the opening ceremony in Taguig City.
Alcos said that while the NMESIS live-fire event is part of the training calendar, the final decision on whether to proceed with the launch will depend on “the actual situation or criteria that will be met” on the day of the maritime strike demonstration.
“But the objective is to be able to maximize these particular training activities,” he added.
Alcos also emphasized that the Navy has submitted to higher headquarters and the Department of National Defense a list of essential or critical capabilities that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) intends to develop — and systems like NMESIS are among them.
China has voiced opposition to the deployment of both the NMESIS and the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system in the Philippines. Since last year, Beijing has repeatedly urged Manila to return the Typhon system to Washington, citing concerns over regional security.
However, Alcos, echoing the stance of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, said no foreign nation has the authority to dictate how the Philippines manages its defense posture.