Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Marine Corps conduct a live-fire exercise against an imaginary enemy target facing the West Philippine Sea at the Laoag Sand Dunes on May 6, 2024. 
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

2024 Balikatan Exercise

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177667474666120250421-balikatan-2025-opening-ceremony-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercise, Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on April 21, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercise, Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on April 21, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>QUEZON CITY – The United States has reaffirmed its “strong” commitment to the Philippines despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as the two allies on Monday opened the Balikatan Exercise 2026.Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the assurance came directly from US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr.“I was in a conversation with my counterpart, Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr… during the start of the conflict in the Middle East. In that conversation, he assured me that despite the conflict happening now in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world [that] the commitment of the US is still strong and that the Balikatan Exercise this year will be—according to his own words—the biggest ever,” Brawner told participating troops at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.The statement comes amid concerns that US military resources could be stretched by global crises, but Brawner emphasized that Washington’s support for Manila remains firm.“The strength of an alliance, the clarity of a shared purpose, and the responsibility that we carry together in securing our region,” the military chief said.“For more than three decades, Balikatan has stood as a living testament to the partnership between the Philippines and the United States—one that has grown stronger, more responsive, and more relevant with time,” he added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/us-begins-philippines-war-games-in-thick-of-middle-east-conflict-0946">US, Philippines begin &#x27;biggest ever&#x27; Balikatan in thick of Middle East conflict</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/17/balikatan-participation-grounded-in-legal-frameworks-not-geopolitical-rivalry-afp-1508">Balikatan participation grounded in legal frameworks, not geopolitical rivalry: AFP</a></div>More than 17,000 troops are expected to participate this year, making it the biggest Balikatan to date. Around 10,000 personnel will come from the United States. “What began as a bilateral training activity has evolved into a truly multilateral endeavor, reflecting the realities of today’s security environment and the shared responsibility of nations committed to peace,” Brawner noted.At least 18 countries will join as observers, including Brunei, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Vietnam, and United Kingdom.Balikatan 2026 will run from April 20 to May 8.Balikatan activities will be held across multiple locations, including northern Luzon, the country’s western seaboard, and parts of southern Luzon. “This is where capability meets interoperability, where coordination becomes cohesion, and where preparation becomes deterrence,” Brawner said.Wortman said the involvement of seven participating nations brings “important capability” that will help strengthen interoperability, improve readiness, and promote stability. “All of the nations that are participating are bringing important capabilities that will directly contribute to our exercise objectives to strengthen interoperability, improve readiness, and contribute to stability in the region,” Wortman said.For the first time, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/16/japan-to-join-ph-us-salaknib-exercise-for-first-time-300-troops-to-participate-1508">Japan will take part</a> as a regular participant, while Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France have been elevated from observer status to full participants. “To our allies and partners, your presence here today sends a clear and unmistakable message that security is shared and that partnership remains our strongest advantage,” Brawner said.“As we open this year’s exercise, we do so with a clear understanding that the challenges we face will continue to evolve; the demands of leadership will continue to grow; and the strength of our alliances will remain essential,” he added.<div> </div><div>ADVANCED SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BRAHMOS</div>Military officials confirmed that advanced weapon systems will be integrated into this year’s drills, including missile systems, air defense assets, and maritime strike capabilities. Among the key assets is the BrahMos anti-ship missile system of the Philippine Marine Corps Coastal Defense Regiment, which will be used in simulated firing during joint maritime strike exercises.“It will only be used in a static environment,” Lorenzo said during the press conference.A highlight of the maritime strike event will be the live-fire exercise using BRP Quezon as a target. The vessel, a World War II-era former US Navy minesweeper, was transferred to the Philippines in 1967 and decommissioned in 2021.Also expected to be incorporated into the drills are the US Army’s Typhon mid-range missile system, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket SYstem (HIMARS),  and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). “We think it’s important that we gain experience planning, coordinating and integrating these capabilities, which have the potential to be more powerful to plan, incorporate or apply together,” Wortman noted.<div> </div><div>‘NOT AIMED AT ANY COUNTRY’</div>Balikatan activities will be held across multiple locations, including northern Luzon, the country’s western seaboard, and parts of southern Luzon. Some multinational maritime exercises will also take place in the West Philippine Sea, although officials clarified that no activities will be conducted near the Bashi Channel.  “We will not have any exercises near Taiwan, but we will have exercises in the West Philippine Sea. We will have exercises in northern Luzon—in Ilocos and Batanes,” Lorenzo said.Amid questions on tensions in the regions, particularly involving China, officials emphasized that the exercise is not aimed at any specific country.  “The exercise, really, is about reinforcing the alliance and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), enhancing our interoperability, strengthening our readiness, and supporting our ability to contribute to security in the region,” Wortman said.“But there is no part of the mission in terms of an adversary force that we’re exercising against,” he added.

The United States has reaffirmed its “strong” commitment to the Philippines despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as the two allies on Monday opened the Balikatan Exercise 2026.

The United States has reaffirmed its “strong” commitment to the Philippines despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as the two allies on Monday opened the Balikatan Exercise 2026.

US reaffirms commitment to PH despite Middle East conflict: AFP Chief

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US reaffirms commitment to PH despite Middle East conflict: AFP Chief

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 20, 2026 04:48 PM PHT

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Balikatan Exercise

Armed Forces of the Philippines

United States

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

commitment

Middle East conflict

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