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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said the $336 million assistance for the modernization of Philippine security forces has been exempted from foreign aid freeze.

Romualdez said they have received confirmation from the US government about the aid exemption.

He said the amount is part of $500 million foreign military financing or FMF that was approved by the US Congress last year under the Biden administration.

”We are pleased with this development after we worked on getting this exemption. This is another significant sign that our strong partnership and alliance with the United States remains intact with the new Trump administration,” he said.

Washington’s assistance is crucial to Manila’s efforts modernize its armed forces – one of Southeast Asia’s weakest – as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea.

Manila refers to the stretch of waters in the South China Sea within Manila’s internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone as West Philippine Sea.

“Both countries are committed to the treaty alliance and to efforts to further strengthen our defense cooperation and interoperability. We will continue to engage the U.S. government on the importance of our bilateral work in supporting our shared goals and priorities,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement.

Earlier the US government under President Donald Trump has released $5.3 billion foreign previously ordered halted.

In January, the US State Department issued a stop-work order for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid. This was after Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy

Washington had also placed the staff of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave.

Marco Rubio, immediately after being confirmed as Trump’s Secretary of State, spoke with Philippine counterpart Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and discussed issues of mutual concern, including China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.”

America’s top diplomat also reiterated America’s “iron-clad” commitment to the Philippines and told Manalo that China’s behavior “undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law.”

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Romualdez, also held separate talks with Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz at the White House where they expressed commitment “to deepen defense and security cooperation in the years ahead.”