US Deploys NMESIS Anti-Ship Missile System During Balikatan Exercise in the Philippines
US forces deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-ship missile system on Saturday as part of the ongoing Balikatan military exercise in the Philippines. The NMESIS, a land-based missile system designed to target and deter hostile naval forces, aims to enhance maritime domain awareness and bolster the defensive posture of both the Philippines and the United States in securing key maritime areas, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The missile system provides a swift and adaptable sea denial capability, strengthening the shared defense of both nations.
This marks the first time the NMESIS anti-ship missile system has been deployed, coinciding with Chinese vessels shadowing Filipino and US ships. The annual joint exercise between the Philippines and the US, which began on April 21, is scheduled to run until May 9.
The exercise takes place amid a months-long confrontation between China and the Philippines over contested waters, with both countries accusing each other of ecological degradation in the South China Sea. While both sides have claims in the South China Sea, Beijing asserts control over nearly the entire region.
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines on Monday warned that the Balikatan exercises “pose a threat” to the Southeast Asian nation’s “freedom and sovereignty” ahead of the May 12 elections. The organization stated that the deployment of the NMESIS was “directly pointing toward Taiwan.”
The group criticized the exercises, citing island seizure operations, cyber warfare training, and maritime blockade rehearsals, which they say focus on “full-spectrum war scenarios” rather than humanitarian defense. The organization also claimed that US soldiers were seen conducting “civil-military operations” in civilian communities in Quezon, blurring the line between military and civilian spaces.
The group called for an immediate end to military exercises during the election season “and beyond,” expressing support for a truly independent Philippine foreign policy free from foreign influence.
