Geopolitical Landscape & US-China Rivalry - The Philippines is strategically important due to its location near Taiwan and the South China Sea, making it a key US ally in Asia [2][7] - The Philippines is caught in the middle of the US-China power struggle, with its foreign policy direction having global consequences [4][6] - China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, represented by the "10-dash line," are disputed by the Philippines and an UN court ruling [21] - The US has access to nine locations in the Philippines to rotate troops, some near Taiwan and the South China Sea, indicating a long-term presence [18] Political Dynamics & Internal Conflicts - The political feud between President Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte is impacting the country's foreign policy [1][5][8] - Sara Duterte has expressed a desire for closer ties with China and a more neutral stance between the US and China [3][6][18][19] - Tensions escalated when Marcos' government acted on an ICC arrest warrant against Duterte's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte [15] - The alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families, known as the "Uniteam," has fractured due to disagreements over policy and positions [11][12] Economic & Trade Implications - The Philippines' post-pandemic economy has grown steadily, outpacing many regional peers [7] - The Philippines is a target of US trade anger and tariff wars, with exports to the US facing a 19% tariff [24] - The Trump administration's economic pressure on allies could push the Philippines towards China [28] - Marcos Sr and his wife are accused of stealing $10 billion USD from the state during his term [9]

Denmark is smaller and further from Russia than many of Ukraine's allies, but it's leading the pack, writes @MarcChampion1 (via @opinion) https://t.co/3eOxNIzCIt ...

Geopolitical Landscape - The Philippines is at the center of a China-US power struggle in Asia [1] - A significant conflict between the Philippine president and vice president could influence the outcome of this power struggle [1]

To counter Russia and China in the high north, America must expand its icebreaker fleet. To do so quickly, it will need Finland’s help https://t.co/2GFGbwPokG ...

It is hoping to sap support for Ukraine and highlight America’s ambivalence https://t.co/59hKttkP5U ...

The escalating grey-zone conflict between the West and Russia is being contested on the sea as well as in the air. A rise in worrying maritime incidents is forcing NATO to step up https://t.co/LJgBEnPE3b ...

A string of US-Taiwan developments have Taipei worried that things are tilting in Beijing’s favor https://t.co/mOPcZK02Ca ...

Western officials do not know why Russia has ramped up its poking and prodding. Some allies believe that recent incidents in Poland and Estonia were accidental, a function of Russian sloppiness rather than malfeasance, though Poland strongly disagrees https://t.co/XGr85OrMYq ...

Russia, not long ago a rising military force in Africa, is now struggling to maintain its footprint on the continent https://t.co/S27kjLmbNC ...

For decades Russia has occasionally strayed into the national airspace of NATO allies. But airspace violations have approximately doubled in the past year, according to one Western official. They have also grown more serious https://t.co/TvnzBaSb7I ...