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17,000 Troops Begin Expanded Military Exercises in the Philippines

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Photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin

Over 17,000 troops from the Philippines and six allied nations are engaged in Exercise Balikatan from April 20 to May 8, marking one of the largest regional military collaborations. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed participation from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, and Canada. The drills focus on joint planning, operations, and disaster response across multiple command areas in the Philippines.

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Initially a bilateral effort between the Philippines and the US, Balikatan has expanded to incorporate more allies, enhancing interoperability in air, land, maritime, and cyberspace domains. The US, despite shifting additional forces to the Middle East due to tensions with Iran, remains committed to maintaining strong ties in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercises also reflect concerns in the West Philippine Sea, with nations increasing their defensive measures amid regional security dynamics.

Colonels Dennis Fernandez and Robert Bunn stressed the drills' significance, noting potential use of advanced systems like the Tomahawk missile and NMESIS. Japan's heightened role this year includes firing a Type 88 missile as part of a counter-live fire exercise, marking its growing defense collaboration within the region. Radar systems from Japan will support operations, bolstering defense capabilities.

The exercises include various operations, such as maritime drills in Northern Luzon, defense exercises in Subic, and maritime strikes in Ilocos Norte. These activities aim to boost joint readiness and collaboration among participating nations. The expanded exercises underscore the importance of military partnerships in addressing regional security challenges.

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image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Manila Bulletin · 14 Apr 2026

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