Philippines, US military drills underscore Washington's commitment

The latest round of military drills involving the Philippines, the United States and several partner nations will underscore Washington's "ironclad" commitment to its treaty ally and to the region, even as global attention remains fixed on the Middle East.



Running from April 20 to May 8 across multiple locations in the Philippine archipelago, the annual "Balikatan" or "shoulder-to-shoulder" drills will see more than 17,000 troops participate in one of the largest and most complex training programmes yet, expanding beyond bilateral exercises into a broader multinational effort.



"Balikatan represents an opportunity to showcase our ironclad alliance with the Philippines and demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Colonel Robert Bunn, U.S. spokesperson for the exercises, said at a press conference in Manila.



Japan's participation in the programme is set to expand this year, with members of its Self-Defense Force taking part in live-fire drills for the first time, using its Type 88 surface-to-ship missile to help sink a decommissioned vessel during a maritime strike exercise.



Tokyo has been strengthening its defence engagement with Manila after they signed a reciprocal access agreement in 2024, allowing them to deploy their militaries in each other's territory.