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The United States has approved the possible sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines valued at $5.58 billion following US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s inaugural tour of the Asian region, which included the Philippines.

According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Philippines has requested to buy 16 F-16 C Block 70/72 aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70/72 aircraft, along with related engines and equipment.

“The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia,” the US State Department said. 

Hegseth, who was in the Philippines from March 27-28, 2025, met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., reaffirmed the United States’ alliance with the Philippines amid tensions from China about territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea.

According to a US Department of Defense (DoD) press release, Hegseth and Teodoro agreed to “take several bold steps and set a robust agenda for the DoD and the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) to reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and achieve Peace through Strength.”

Following the US Government’s approval of the fighter jet sale to the Philippines, China warned against ​​actions that could “threaten regional peace”. 

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun was quoted by Philippine media outlet The Daily Tribune to have said that the Philippines’ security cooperation “should not target any third party or harm the interests of a third party. Nor should it threaten regional peace and security or exacerbate regional tensions.”