What's behind the biggest US-Philippines exercise in 30 years, "Balikatan"?

The closing ceremony of the 38th annual Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercise was held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The Manila Bulletin quoted Major General Marvin Licudine, commander of the Philippine forces participating in the exercise, congratulating the 17,600 soldiers from both countries (including 12,200 American soldiers and 5,400 Filipino soldiers). The number of members participating in the exercise is nearly double that of last year.

The Balikatan joint exercise began on April 11 and will run until April 28. The exercise involves landing helicopters on a Philippine island off the northern tip of Luzon.

The US also used Patriot missiles in the exercise. This is considered one of the best air defense systems in the world .

The Balikatan joint exercise began on April 11 and will last until April 28. Photo: Philippine Air Force

The exercise helps improve tactics, techniques and procedures in a range of military operations. Photo: dvidshub.net

On April 26, the US and Philippine militaries fired a series of missiles at a simulated target in the East Sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos sat on an observation tower with his subordinates and the US to monitor the exercise taking place north of the capital Manila.

During the exercise, six missiles from the US HIMARS precision missile system were fired at a decommissioned Philippine navy ship anchored about 20 kilometers off the coast.

Nearly 18,000 soldiers from the two countries - including 12,200 US soldiers and 5,400 Filipino soldiers - participated in the annual exercise called Balikatan. Photo: dvidshub.net

This is the largest joint exercise between the US and the Philippines in more than 30 years. Photo: dvidshub.net

On this day (April 26), something unexpected happened. The Inquirer reported that an unidentified object violated the airspace of a joint military exercise between the US and the Philippines, forcing the exercise to be temporarily suspended.

A Patriot air defense missile system is fired during a live-fire exercise between the US and Philippine militaries on April 25. Photo: Reuters

HIMARS multiple launch rocket system fires during an exercise on April 26. Photo: Reuters

During the exercise, an unidentified object appeared in the airspace of San Antonio City, which was detected by the early warning radar system. The Philippines has not yet said what the object was.

"Safety is the top priority when conducting the exercise, any intrusion into the exercise - whether intentional or unintentional - affects the plan," said Balikatan spokesman Colonel Michael Logico of the Philippine military.

US and Philippine soldiers during a drill on April 23. Photo: dvidshub.net

This is the first time that joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines have been held under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Photo: dvidshub.net

The 2023 Balikatan exercise comes after the US and the Philippines reached an agreement to increase the number of military bases the US military is allowed to use in the Philippines from four to nine.

Following Exercise Balikatan, the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will hold the Cope Thunder air exercise from May 1 to 12. This is the first Cope Thunder exercise to be held since 1990.

The Cope Thunder exercise was first held in 1976 at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. However, it was discontinued after the Philippines closed its military bases in Clark and Subic Bay in 1991.

Among the aircraft expected to participate in the upcoming Cope Thunder exercise are USAF F-16 multirole fighters and PAF FA-50 jets.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/sau-tap-tran-lon-nhat-trong-30-nam-balikatan-giua-my-philippines-la-gi-2023042817511103.htm