AFP: 2026 ‘Balikatan’ exercises ‘biggest’ yet
This year’s annual “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises between the Philippines and the United States are set to be the largest yet, expanding in both scope and intensity, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Tuesday.
“When you say biggest, it’s not just the number of troops but the number of activities that we’re doing,” Brawner told reporters on the sidelines of a Stratbase ADR forum in Makati City.
The April-to-May drills will feature a wider range of activities, including disaster response, noncombatant evacuation operations, cyber defense and space-related exercises, he said.
Japanese combat forces are also participating in the Balikatan for the first time, instead of just being observers.
“From being on opposing sides in the past, we are now working together as partners,” Brawner said, stressing the significance of the shift amid evolving security challenges in the region.
He stressed that defense engagements among participants have broadened to include more complex joint and trilateral exercises, covering not just training but also disaster preparedness and cyber operations.
