Australia is funding eight infrastructure projects this year across five military bases in Luzon, Philippines. Canberra will lead the construction, use, upgrade, and maintenance of these facilities. The exact locations and costs have not been revealed yet. According to Philippine news outlet Rappler, these projects are part of Australia’s efforts to strengthen regional security. The Philippines is seen as a potential front line in any future regional war. A November study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute noted that Australia’s ties with the Philippines have grown closer since 2017. Canberra now has its own reasons to invest in Philippine security beyond supporting US strategy in the Indo-Pacific. The study pointed out that Australia’s defense relationship with the Philippines is now the closest after the US. This reflects Canberra’s evolving strategic interests in the region.