A-JILL NEUBRONNER: The U.S. and the Philippines have ended their annual joint military exercises
A-JILL NEUBRONNER: known as Balikatan which means a shoulder to shoulder in Tagalog
A-JILL NEUBRONNER: marriage. Ramos reports full CNA from Metro Manila.
Speaker2: After nearly 3 weeks of intense of military drills, the 2026 Monday that
Speaker2: the exercises have officially come to a close it more risks with officials
Speaker2: describe as the largest and most multinational by the current exercise
Speaker2: ever held in the Philippines around 17,000 combined troops participated in
Speaker2: the annual defense rehearsal this year. It expanded into a 7 country exercise
Speaker2: involving not only the Philippines and the United States, but also Australia,
Speaker2: New Zealand, France, Canada and Japan.
Speaker2: The participation of 1000, 400 Japan Self-Defense Force Personal this year
Speaker2: also marked a historic tenfold increase in Japan's troop deployment from the
Speaker2: previous year on Wednesday in an office nor there Philippine defense Secretary
Speaker2: Gilberto should order junior and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro
Speaker2: Koizumi. Witness the live fire exercise of Japan. Skype 88 surface to ship
Speaker2: missile system. Japan's participation this year coincided with the 70th
Speaker2: anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties with the Philippines.
Speaker2: It also marked Japan's first ever participation in live fire drills and by
Speaker2: the time since it's reciprocal access agreement with the Philippines came into
Speaker2: effect in September 2025.
Speaker2: this year's balikatan also coincided with a 70 the 5th anniversary of the
Speaker2: mutual defense Treaty between Manila and Washington. Further highlighting
Speaker2: deepening military cooperation between the 2 allies. Despite geopolitical
Speaker2: tensions,
Speaker2: the firm Secretary 2 daughters said the Philippines will be reviewing this
Speaker2: year's balika time to assess how it can improve external defense.
Speaker1: She said the parents exercise as much as it is a training exercise
Speaker1: and no country works. It's so
Speaker1: will not be there in any external aggression or in need, but then show
Speaker1: future threat whatsoever.
Speaker2: Unlike previous years, the exercises focused heavily on bialystok combat
Speaker2: scenarios, including the territorial defence cyber warfare and maritime
Speaker2: security with operations conducted in northern the sign. But time the U.S. and
Speaker2: Palau and for areas near key flashpoints such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Speaker2: Philippine and U.S. officials stress that the drills were not directed at any
Speaker2: specific country. China has criticized exercises and conducted parallel drills
Speaker2: near Scarborough Shoal reflecting heightened geopolitical tensions in the
Speaker2: region.
Speaker2: Meanwhile, progressive group Bible audience by an or by on stage a protest
Speaker2: city outside company. Now the condemning the exercises and accusing the bobbing
Speaker2: that allowing the Philippines to be used as a staging ground for U.S. military
Speaker2: operations.
Speaker2: Despite the criticism, defense officials seen the final cut and 2026 strengthen
Speaker2: the country's external defense full church and enhances peace, security and
Speaker2: stability in the Indo-Pacific region as they look to expand the coalition next
Speaker2: year.
Speaker1: But to get them, 41 was never simply about conducting a do with these people
Speaker1: is about strengthening the ability to respond together in real complex
Speaker1: conditions. And that matters because in today's security environment, readiness
Speaker1: cannot be improvise.
Speaker2: That in turn almost reporting for CNA from Metro Manila.