On July 7, 2025, the United States deployed F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to Clark Air Base in the Philippines for the first time in history. This high-profile deployment took place during Cope Thunder 25-2, a joint aerial exercise between the U.S. and the Philippine Air Force, aimed at strengthening defense cooperation, improving interoperability, and reinforcing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.The exercise, involving over 2,500 military personnel, is part of the broader U.S. Agile Combat Employment strategy. It comes at a time of heightened maritime tension in the South China Sea, where the Philippine Coast Guard recently reported the presence of foreign vessels near Cabra Island, within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.Clark Air Base, once a major U.S. facility during the Cold War, has returned to strategic relevance under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows U.S. rotational access to key Philippine military locations.This video breaks down the geopolitical implications of the F-35A deployment, the scope of the joint exercises, and how this reflects long-term military cooperation amid increasing regional challenges.📌 Sources:Army Recognition – U.S. F-35A deployment to the Philippines (16 July 2025)[U.S. Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs – Cope Thunder exercise background][Philippine Coast Guard statements on EEZ monitoring][U.S. Department of Defense updates on Indo-Pacific strategy and Agile Combat Employment]#F35A #USPhilippines #IndoPacificSecurity