BALIKATAN 2022 | US, Philippines hold largest military drills at the backdrop of Ukraine conflict

March 28, 2022 , 04:53 PM

By Manny Mogato, News5 editor-at-large

(March 28, 2022) – Nearly 9,000 American and Filipino troops on Monday began the largest bilateral military drills since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic struck two years ago, rehearsing a mutual defense plan in preparation for an armed invasion seen in Ukraine.

Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom also sent a token number of troops as observers while dozens of defense and military attaches in Manila were invited to witness life fire and amphibious landing exercises north of the capital.

General Andres Centino, Armed Forces chief of staff, said the drills are very timely “in the light of the domestic landscapes as well as in the international environment.”

“It has indeed been a shared responsibility to address our vulnerabilities and ensure that both our armed forces are able to promptly and effectively respond to any crisis or emergency under all circumstances,” Centino said, describing the current security landscape as “volatile, uncertain and ambiguous”.

He also said the two militaries are facing “fast changing advancements in warfare” as the world witnessed how one of the world’s largest armies, armed with advanced weaponry, got stalled in the invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The two-week joint and combined drills opened on Monday at the main military based in Manila, welcoming 5,100 US sailors, marines, airmen and ground forces to share conventional warfare best practices and test each other’s skills in mock combat and joint operations in land, sea and air operations. More than 3,800 local troops will join in the exercise.

Later in the week, sailors and marines will test joint amphibious landing drills in Claveris, Cagayan in northern Luzon, near the volatile Taiwan Straits where Chinese ships and aircraft have constantly tested the readiness of tiny Taiwan to react to the air and maritime incursions.

Similarly, the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard have been constantly reporting Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, and in disputed maritime areas in Scarborough Shoal and Spralty.

US Air Force F-16 fighters will drop bombs, strafe and rehearse close air support operations in Crow Valley gunnery range in Tarlac. The ground forces will also have live artillery firing and training in jungle warfare at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

The US Embassy’s charge’ d’affaires, Heather Variava, both countries have built “an enduring alliance” and “deep military cooperation” over the past seven decades to sustain “peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.”

“This combined joint exercise is an opportunity for the United States and the Philippines to reaffirm our commitment to even more robust ties and to a relationship that remains highly relevant as the world faces new and continuing challenges,” Variava said.

Exercise Director, Major-General Charlton Gaerlan said the events in the 37th Exercise Balikatan are designed to enhance force capability and strengthen cooperation in maritime security, amphibious operations, live fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“Undoubtedly, these activities will positively impact our force readiness and strengthen our robust alliance,” Gaerlan said.

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