Philippines, U.S. forces kick off most expansive Balikatan exercise

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States military will conduct the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan across the Philippine archipelago from 20 April to 8 May.

It is the most expansive exercise to date, with more than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand training together, including 17 other nations as part of the international observer program.

According to Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Francisco F. Lorenzo Jr., AFP Education and Training Command Commander, Balikatan is the embodiment of our nation’s commitment to a strong and credible defense posture.

“This exercise is a prime opportunity for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to accelerate our modernization and enhance our capabilities as a vanguard of regional peace,” Lorenzo said.

Field training throughout the Philippines will culminate in capstone events to rehearse warfighting skills in maritime security, coastal defense, and the integration of combined and joint fires to sharpen command and control skills.

Vessels from four countries will also join in the multi-day multilateral maritime exercise along the west coast of the Philippines, conducting deck landing qualifications, live-fire gunnery, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue training.

Along with this, Humanitarian and civic assistance activities, including engineering and construction projects, and community health engagements at five locations across the archipelago, will participate in the program, benefitting Filipino communities and strengthening assistance preparedness.

“Our alliance with the Philippines has been a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific for 75 years,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman, I Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General.

Wortman highlighted that the Balikatan is a powerful demonstration of a strong commitment to the alliance, noting that it will further enhance shared strengths and capabilities, creating trust and readiness to safeguard a prosperous and peaceful future for the region.