How South Korea can play pivotal role in Philippines’ military modernisation drive

The Philippines' military modernization effort may provide South Korea with a chance to shift from being a primary arms supplier to establishing a more profound defense relationship, according to analysts. This possibility gained new impetus after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Shin-chul, agreed to enhance cooperation in military modernization, defense technology, and joint training during a Southeast Asian security summit in Cebu recently.

Teodoro echoed the sentiment of their "brother-and-sister" relationship earlier this month, describing both nations as strategically aligned, which offers Seoul confidence as a dependable partner for the Philippines' defense modernization.

The Philippines has been steadily acquiring South Korean defense equipment, such as the Korean-made FA-50 light combat aircraft and warships. Over half of the new frigates and corvettes in the Philippine Navy are manufactured in South Korea, Teodoro confirmed in Seoul. However, he emphasized the need to expand the partnership beyond equipment procurement to include co-production.

South Korea views Manila as an appealing defense industry market, driven by the country's growing economy and increasing need for advanced weapon systems due to rising challenges from China. The Philippines, being one of the few Southeast Asian countries that sent troops under the UN Command during the Korean War, has strengthened military ties with South Korea. Historical ties have also played a role in deepening defense cooperation between the two nations.

The Philippines represents 18% of South Korea's arms exports between 2021 and 2025, making it the second-largest market after Poland. With Poland's arms imports primarily focusing on land-based systems, the Philippines presents an excellent opportunity for South Korea to exhibit its naval and air platforms to a broader regional export market. This aligns with the Philippine need to bolster its maritime and island defense capabilities, generating momentum for deeper and more sustained collaboration.

Seoul's recent leadership meetings and the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2024, which includes maintenance in the procurement arrangement, have created a framework for transitioning from one-off sales to cooperation throughout the equipment's lifecycle. Submarine potential is another crucial aspect to watch. The Philippines is exploring acquisition programs for frigates and submarines, with both Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean vying for these contracts.

The success of the submarine program will depend on building a strategic partnership rather than a mere arms sale, as Hanwha Ocean offered a proposal that includes submarine construction, base facilities, maintenance, and Filipino personnel training.