More than 14,000 troops from the United States and the Philippines commenced their largest annual joint military exercise, Balikatan, on Monday, signalling growing defence cooperation in response to rising tensions in the South China Sea and broader regional security concerns.
The three-week-long drills, which will run until May 9, feature a series of live-fire and maritime operations aimed at testing both countries’ combat readiness. Key highlights include the deployment of advanced US military hardware like the NMESIS anti-ship missile system and HIMARS rocket launchers, alongside the Philippine military’s own modern missiles.
According to a media summary, one of the focal points of the exercise will be a maritime strike scenario in which a decommissioned Philippine navy ship will be sunk—testing the joint forces’ ability to neutralise maritime threats.
US Lieutenant General James Glynn, who is directing the American contingent, described the 2025 drills as “full battle tests” designed to address the evolving challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea.
“The full battle tests are intended to take into consideration all of the regional security challenges we face today, beginning in the South China Sea,” Glynn said during a media briefing.
This year’s Balikatan includes 9,000 US troops and 5,000 Filipino soldiers, making it one of the largest editions yet. Military personnel from Australia, Japan, Britain, France, and Canada are also participating in limited roles, while 16 other nations are attending as observers.
Philippine exercise director Major General Francisco Lorenzo clarified that the drills are not directed at any specific nation but serve as a deterrence mechanism.
“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 stated.
The backdrop of the exercises includes growing friction between China and the Philippines, with multiple confrontations between their coast guards in disputed waters over the last two years. Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a position rejected by both Manila and an international tribunal ruling.
As tensions continue to escalate in the Indo-Pacific, the Balikatan drills underscore the Philippines’ strengthened defence ties with the United States and its broader alignment with other regional democracies aiming to uphold a rules-based order.
Melissa Enoch
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