US, PH Tackle Drone, CBRN Threats

The United States and the Philippines brought together senior security and operational leaders from across the Indo-Pacific for a five-day regional workshop aimed at strengthening cooperation against the growing threat of weaponized unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials.

Held in Manila from August 24 to 28, the Capstone Workshop and Combined Tabletop Exercise was hosted by the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with the Government of the Philippines, as the two countries mark the 80th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Hosted by the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, through its Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Planning, and the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center, the workshop brought together delegations from Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

The event marked the culmination of a regional training series launched in 2025 focused on the convergence of two evolving security challenges: the proliferation of low-cost, commercially available drones and the risk of CBRN materials falling into the hands of malicious actors.

Participants took part in an intensive, scenario-based tabletop exercise covering early warning and intelligence-sharing, crisis response, technical and forensic investigations, and cross-border prosecution of UAS-CBRN threats.

“This workshop shows what’s possible when countries combine ingenuity, expertise, and resolve. Together with our partners across the Indo-Pacific, we’re building the tools and the trust needed to stay ahead of tomorrow’s threats,” said Anti-Terrorism Council–Program Management Center Executive Director Undersecretary Hansel M. Marantan.

He added that such collaboration helps reduce the risk of terrorists using drones to threaten communities and public safety.

The workshop also featured a Technology Showcase on August 27, where U.S. technology companies presented counter-UAS and CBRN detection solutions to defense, law enforcement, and emergency-response officials from participating countries.

The showcase provided an opportunity for participating governments to examine technologies designed to detect and respond to emerging drone and CBRN threats, while strengthening cooperation between government agencies, international partners, and the private sector.

The Manila exercise builds on regional engagements conducted over the past 18 months and underscores the importance of interagency and cross-border cooperation in addressing emerging security threats across Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific.