The $2.5 Billion Fortress: Why Washington’s Defense Guarantee Is a Game-Changer for the Philippines

In a week of high-stakes diplomacy, the United States Congress has delivered a powerful signal of stability to the Indo-Pacific. On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Senate passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a massive $900-billion bill that includes a historic $2.5 billion (approximately P146 billion) security assistance package for the Philippines.