The Philippines and United States launched the 40th annual “Balikatan” exercises, mobilizing up to 17,000 military personnel for three weeks of complex joint operations. This year’s drills, reflecting heightened regional tensions, include for the first time an integrated air and missile defense simulation and are attended by top leadership, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
Alongside traditional warfighting scenarios, the exercises showcase deployment of advanced systems like the NMESIS anti-ship missile, with maneuvers occurring near critical chokepoints adjacent to Taiwan. This strategic demonstration of force is designed to affirm the allies’ 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty commitments, counter regional coercion, and train personnel for the latest security threats in contested maritime zones.
The deepening defense relationship and recurring joint maneuvers signal an unambiguous intent to deter aggression and strengthen the collective ability to respond to evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
