Bangsamoro's regional government statement on the peace agreement signed 13 years ago.

7. Funding, procurement procedures and the force structure remain other critical parts of the equation for modernisation.

Maximising defence partnerships, and working on the nuts and bolts of establishing a truly joint force, remain key tasks as well.

6. There are still gaps: It is not easy to develop a strategic culture that moves from land-based threat perceptions to a more maritime approach and a strategy that both looks at the South China Sea and the northern Philippines as critical theatres.

4. The modernisation effort is unfolding amid growing tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea; worries about a confrontation between the U.S. and China over Taiwan; shifting geopolitics; and uncertainty surrounding the second Trump administration’s policies.

3. Manila is increasing its defence acquisitions, augmenting its military partnerships and deepening its alliance with Washington.

It tries to balance the “hardware” of new equipment with the “software” of thinking beyond jungle warfare/counterterrorism towards coastal defence.

2. The shift is still a work in progress.

But under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the Philippines is modernising its military capabilities and accelerating efforts to change gear from counterinsurgency to territorial and external defence.

1. I have spent the last days in the Bangsamoro region in the southern Philippines.

But despite the ever-present security challenges and the complex peace process, another trend is evident: The re-orientation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 🧵

Everyday legacies of the Pacific War.

Santa Mesa, Manila.

Election Day in the Philippines arrived.

All eyes on the Bangsamoro region.

On the ground in the Bangsamoro region in the Philippines to see how the local and midterm elections in the region shape national politics and the peace process.

The events of 11 March still occupy the Philippines.

After former president Duterte's arrest, some thoughts for G-Zero:

www.gzeromedia.com/news/watchin...

More recently, I talked on a podcast about this and other topics relating to the Philippines. Tune In!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

Zeitgeist in Manila.

1/9 On 23 November, the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signed a joint statement in Norway.

Both sides commit to peacefully resolve the decade-long armed conflict between Manila and communist rebels.

What are some points to consider at this stage?

THREAD

Throwback:

The Philippine town of Marawi in 2018, months after the months-long siege in the Islamic City came to an end.

Throwback: Southern Palawan, 2014.