Manila: A three-week-long war exercise between the Philippines and the US began on Monday. In this exercise, preparations for territorial defense and large-scale deployment of troops will be intensified. The purpose of this war exercise of both the countries is to deal with potential threats from China. There is a decades-old dispute between China and the Philippines over the islands in the South China Sea. There have been violent clashes between the two countries many times. For this reason, the Philippines is now increasing military cooperation with countries opposing China.
5,000 soldiers involved in exercise
About 5,000 soldiers from the Philippine Army and US Army Pacific will participate in warfighting and exchange of expertise in the first phase of this year's Exercise Salakanib. The second phase of the exercise is scheduled for later this year. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to visit Manila this week to meet with Philippine leaders and military officials.
Philippine Army releases statement
The Philippine Army said in a statement that the exercise will focus on enhancing joint operations between their armies, large-scale maneuvers, live-fire exercises and territorial defense. Exercise Salakanib began in 2016 and is an annual engagement between the two treaty allies, part of the broader Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) training exercise.
Philippines draws closer to US
Security engagement between the two countries has grown under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has drawn closer to the United States. Marcos has prioritized upholding the Philippines' sovereign rights in the South China Sea and has repeatedly clashed with China over China's actions in the disputed waterway, including the continued presence of Beijing's coast guard near disputed features in Manila's maritime domain.
US Defense Secretary visiting Philippines
Hegseth is the first Cabinet official to visit Manila since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Earlier, Lloyd Austin, who was the US Defense Secretary under President Joe Biden, said that the US alliance with the Philippines would continue beyond the change in administration. The Philippines in January secured an exemption from a 90-day funding freeze ordered by Trump so that it could receive $336 million to modernize its security forces.
