Will Israel be a major player in the Philippines’ US$36 billion military upgrade?

At the heart of this engagement is Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), one of the country’s largest defence firms, which has reportedly been in talks with Philippine officials about supplying coastal and aerial defence systems.

Maxim Zemer, the company’s senior vice-president of marketing for Asia and Africa, said IAI was “working according to the requirements of the Philippines” during a defence exhibition in Manila on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

The Philippines has long relied on Israeli military technology, known for its quality and affordability compared to Western options, analysts say.

Israel is already the Philippines’ second-largest arms supplier, with imports reaching more than US$4.2 million this year alone. Manila accounts for roughly 12 per cent of Israel’s arms exports.