In the light of increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippines and the United States are about to undertake its largest iteration of its longest-running bilateral exercises this year, as this now sets to foster strong defense relations far beyond the alliance set by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
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| A C-130J Super Hercules of the United States Marine Corps unloading materiel in Subic Bay International Airport. (c) Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. |
This year's event is expected to be more comprehensive than previous iterations of the Balikatan Exercises, with the Royal Australian Armed Forces joining in. The exercises will run for 18 days, concluding on April 28, 2023, and at least 17,600 military personnel are expected to participate. Of this number, 12,000 are American troops.
The Balikatan Exercises are an annual training event that aims to improve the interoperability of the Philippines and the United States in various areas, such as counter-terrorism, disaster response, and maritime security. It has been conducted since 1991, and this year's event is set to demonstrate the strong partnership between the Philippines, the United States, and Australia.
One of the highlights of this year's exercises is the live-fire phase, which is a first for the conduct of Balikatan. The live-fire exercise will include the sinking of a fishing vessel, which will serve as the target. The sinking of the vessel is expected to showcase the military's capability to protect the country's maritime interests.
The exercises will also include humanitarian and civic assistance projects, such as medical and dental missions, engineering projects, and school refurbishments. These projects aim to improve the lives of the people in the communities where the exercises will be conducted.
The number of participants in this year's Balikatan Exercises is significantly higher than the previous iteration, which had only 8,900 soldiers in attendance. The large number of participants indicates the strong commitment of the Philippines, the United States, and Australia to promoting stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
In summary, the Balikatan Exercises 2023 will showcase the strong partnership between the Philippines, the United States, and Australia. The live-fire exercise and the humanitarian and civic assistance projects demonstrate the military's capability to protect the country's interests while improving the lives of the people in the communities where the exercises will be conducted. The event serves as a symbol of cooperation and mutual defense, promoting stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
(c) 2023 PMAU.
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