During a visit to Manila last week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced a new A$18 million four-year package to strengthen Australia's bilateral maritime assistance to the Philippines. The package includes A$10 million for advanced drone technology and operator training for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The new support comes as Australia and the Philippines face an increasingly complex maritime security environment across the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters, Wong highlighted the importance of keeping the region's waterways free, open and secure, while reaffirming Australia's support for international maritime law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). She also expressed concern over destabilising activity in the South China Sea.

The latest commitment builds on Australia's existing support for the Philippine Coast Guard. According to the Australian Government, Australian-provided drones are already being used for maritime security, search and rescue and environmental protection operations. The latest funding will bring Australia's drone support to almost A$15 million since April 2025.

The cooperation also forms part of a wider regional security effort. Australia has committed A$160 million over the next decade to strengthen maritime cooperation with Southeast Asian partners, including support for maritime domain awareness, governance, environmental protection and regional resilience.

For Australia, the relationship with the Philippines has become increasingly significant as security concerns across the Indo-Pacific continue to develop. The two countries have strengthened cooperation across defence, maritime security, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, while the Philippines' strategic position places it at the centre of some of the region's most important maritime routes. The Philippine government says the countries now have 124 bilateral agreements covering areas including security and defence cooperation, air services, education, research and border management.

The timing is also significant. Australia and the Philippines formally marked 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, with both governments describing the relationship as a long-standing strategic partnership.

As regional competition increases, the latest announcements demonstrate how Australia's security partnerships are extending beyond traditional defence cooperation. Maritime surveillance, drones, information sharing and resilience are increasingly becoming part of the wider security picture.

For Australia and the Philippines, strengthening those capabilities is likely to remain an important part of maintaining a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.

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