Philippines, US launch joint combat drills in 'full battle test'
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Romeo Brawner Jr delivers a message during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Philippine Balikatan Exercise Director Major General Francisco Lorenzo answers questions from the media beside his counterpart U.S. Balikatan Exercise Director Lieutenant General James Glynn after the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Philippine Balikatan Exercise Director Major General Francisco Lorenzo, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Romeo Brawner Jr, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson, U.S. Balikatan Exercise Director Lieutenant General James Glynn, and AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Major General Llewillyn S Banaag pose for a picture during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
U.S. Balikatan Exercise Director Lieutenant General James Glynn answers questions from the media beside his counterpart Philippine Exercise Director Major General Francisco Lorenzo during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA - More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a "full battle test" between the two defence treaty allies in the face of regional security concerns, including tensions in the South China Sea.
The annual "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises will run for three weeks until May 9, showcasing an array of U.S. weapons that include the NMESIS anti-ship missile system and HIMARS rocket launchers.
The Philippines will test its own modern missiles in live-fire exercises with American counterparts, according to a summary shared with media.
Lieutenant General James Glynn, the exercise director for the U.S. side, described this year's drills as "full battle tests" where capabilities of both forces will be measured in multiple scenarios. Exercises include defending against missile threats, preventing invasions at sea, and sinking a decommissioned Philippine navy vessel in a maritime strike test.
"The full battle tests is intended to take into consideration all of the regional security challenges that we face today, beginning in the South China Sea," Glynn told a media briefing.
About 9,000 U.S. soldiers and 5,000 Filipino troops are participating this year, officials said. Small contingents from Australia, Japan, Britain, France and Canada are also participating and 16 other countries have signed up as observers.
The exercises come as regional tensions simmer in Asia over China's activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, which neighbours the Philippines. Major General Francisco Lorenzo, the exercises director for the Philippines, said the drills were not directed at any country, but could act as deterrent against conflict.
"The Balikatan exercise may probably help deter the conflict in Taiwan. But for our concern, it is only for deterrence of any possible coercion or invasion to our country," Lorenzo said.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated the past two years over run-ins between their coast guards in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims sovereignty over almost in its entirety. REUTERS
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