- September 17, 2025
- 7:26 pm
- Brief news
The Israeli military industry is facing serious problems not only with Spanish and other European buyers but also with the Philippines, the largest buyer in Asia. This occurred amid the Philippine government’s demands to stop purchasing Israeli weapons due to the conflict in Gaza.
Purchases in Question
Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro recently explained the situation at a parliamentary budget commission meeting. He stated that the ministry has stopped signing new contracts for arms supplies while continuing to fulfill previously signed agreements.
“We are only continuing old contracts. But we are not signing new ones,” the minister noted, referring to agreements for the supply of 155-mm shells for ATMOS howitzers with Elbit Systems.
Pressure from Parliamentarians
Politicians in the country are actively calling for an end to cooperation with Israel, citing the alleged “mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza.” Nevertheless, the Philippines is not a leader in anti-Israel sentiments in Asia. The army commander indicated that continuing the contract signed in 2022 remains the only option for the country.
State of Military Exports
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, cited by the newspaper “Globes,” before the war in Ukraine, the Philippines ranked second among foreign clients of the Israeli military industry. India held the first position, accounting for 37% of Israel’s military exports, while the Philippines had 12%. The USA followed them with 8.5%.
Market Changes
Last year saw a significant shift: Europe took the first place, with the share of purchased weapons increasing from 35% to 54%. Meanwhile, the share of Asia-Pacific countries decreased from 48% to 23%. This is how dramatically the balance of power in the military supply market is changing.
Thus, the future of Israeli supplies to the Philippines is now under great threat, highlighting the overall dynamics of military exports in the region.