The United States Army will conduct joint battlefield training in the Philippines to enhance combat readiness and supply capabilities in challenging tropical conditions and island settings. The move aligns with the Biden administration's efforts to strengthen military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region and the Philippines' aim to bolster territorial defenses and disaster response capabilities.
The Breakdown
Around 2,000 US and Philippine army forces will participate in combat drills in the northern Philippines in June, involving helicopters, artillery fire, and jungle warfare scenarios.
The training will follow two larger exercises, Salaknib and Balikatan, which will involve a total of 16,000 US and Philippine forces, as well as observers from other countries like Japan.
Training Snapshot
The combat training in the Philippines is a response to Manila's request and signifies a closer military partnership between the US and the Philippines.
The live monitoring of the training aims to assess the readiness and logistical capabilities of both forces, including their ability to sustain supplies and operate in challenging environments.
The Objective
The joint combat training in the Philippines serves multiple purposes:
Strengthening military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China's influence and potential aggression.
Enhancing the combat readiness and capabilities of US and Philippine forces in challenging tropical and island settings.
Improving disaster response capabilities and territorial defense readiness in the Philippines.
Photo, a joint exercise between the US, Philippines, Indonesia held in Hawaii and Southern California in June 2018, photographed by US Navy Chief Mass Communication Specialist Cynthia Z. De Leon.
