The annual “Balikatan” exercises among the Philippines, United States and its allies are aimed at creating defensive systems that can move and respond efficiently, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Monday.
“We are building systems that think, move and respond as one. We are sharpening what we now understand to be essential in modern defense, which are information advantage, systems overmatch, and force resiliency. These are not abstract concepts. they are the difference between reacting and prevailing,” he said during the “Balikatan” opening ceremonies.
Through “integrated air and missile defense, maritime security operations, live fire exercises, and joint multinational readiness training during the three-week drills, Brawner said “participants are building more than capability.”
“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,” the AFP chief stressed.
He added that this strong partnership was further highlighted by the fact that Indo-Pacific Command head, Admiral Samuel Paparo, reiterated Washington D.C.’s commitment to Philippine security despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“I was in a conversation with my counterpart, Admiral Samuel Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, during the start of the conflict in the Middle East. And in that conversation, he assured me that despite the conflict happening now in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world, the commitment of the United States is still strong,” he added.
Likewise, Brawner said that Paparo, in his own words, said that this year’s “Balikatan” will be “the biggest ever.”
“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. This year, over 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the United States, and from our partner nations, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand. We stand shoulder to shoulder in this exercise,” the AFP chief said.
Around 13 to 18 nations are expected to send observers for the “Balikatan” drills which will run until May 8.
“Together, we train across the breadth of our archipelago, from Northern Luzon to Palawan, from the Visayas to Mindanao, testing our readiness in real-world conditions across all domains,” Brawner said.
At the same time, the AFP chief said “Balikatan” remains grounded in something equally important, the connection to the people.
“Through our humanitarian and civic assistance activities, we will work hand in hand with local communities, building schools, supporting healthcare, and strengthening disaster preparedness. Because security is not measured only in deterrence, it is also measured in resilience, and resilience begins with our people. Let me emphasize this. ‘Balikatan’ is readiness made real, cooperation put into action, and peace preserved through our strength,” he added. (PNA)
