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‘Balikatan’ presents an opportunity for the Philippines and US troops to address weaknesses

MANILA – Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Andres Centino said Monday that the annual “Balikatan” exercises allow both American and Filipino troops to address their vulnerabilities and ensure that both are capable of responding effectively to any crisis or emergency.

“Given the volatile, uncertain, and ambiguous nature of the security environment in which we find ourselves and the rapid advancements in warfare, it has indeed been a shared responsibility to address our vulnerabilities and ensure that both our Armed Forces are capable of responding quickly and effectively to any crisis or emergency under any circumstances,” Centino said during the opening of the joint military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The two-week exercise, which runs until April 8, will include drills and training in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Centino added that “Balikatan” is also one of the long-standing bilateral engagements between the Philippines and the United States that has paved the way for increased cooperation, collaboration, and mutual commitment aimed at promoting collective security.

“More importantly, the ‘Balikatan’ exercise embodies the friendship and alliance between our two countries; after all, the term ‘Balikatan’ is derived from the Filipino word ‘balikat,’ which translates as shoulder-to-shoulder,” the AFP chief added.

Centino noted that this year’s “Balikatan” is particularly noteworthy because both countries were able to carry out the exercise fully with approximately 8,900 participants and observers from various Armed Forces, a significant improvement over the previous year.

The figure includes 3,800 AFP members and 5,100 US military personnel, the largest combined contingent of the two militaries in the annual exercise since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in 2020.

Only 226 American and 415 Filipino military personnel participated in “Balikatan” 2021, while “Balikatan” 2020 was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Centino attributed this year’s large contingent to the country’s improved Covid-19 situation and relaxed safety protocols.

“I would like to express my government’s profound gratitude to the US government and the US Armed Forces for their unwavering commitment and support in upholding our obligation under the Mutual Defense Treaty,” Centino said.

Among this year’s “Balikatan” activities are various staff exercises, joint and combined interoperability exercises, and humanitarian civic assistance, he added.

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