President Marcos Faces Criticism Over Philippines Minerals Deal With Israel and the United States
June 14, 2026
MANILA — The controversial “Pax Silica” initiative and a U.S.-led critical minerals alliance have sparked a fierce sovereignty debate over the exploitation of the Philippines’ natural wealth. The deal concessions 4,000 acres of land and grants foreign entities access to the country’s vast nickel, copper, and cobalt reserves under asymmetrical trade terms that levy a 19% tariff on Philippine exports while allowing tax-free entry for foreign tech.
As public scrutiny mounts over the lack of transparency during negotiations, Israel has aggressively moved to join the framework. Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh noted that Philippine minerals fill a critical supply gap for Israel, which possesses zero domestic mineral deposits but leads in cybersecurity, AI, and defense technology. Critics warn that the “minerals-for-technology” exchange threatens to repeat centuries-old patterns of resource extraction, leaving the Philippines leverage-poor while tethering its independent foreign policy to a U.S.-led technological cold war.
Sources: @pulsoworld @mitzijonelle
#PaxSilica #luzoneconomiccorridor #fyp #philippineindependenceday #israel
English Script:
N/A
