Thousands of military personnel from the Philippines, the United States, and several allied nations have commenced one of the largest annual joint exercises known as "Balikatan," or "Shoulder-to-shoulder," which started on April 20 and is scheduled to run until May 8. The drills are taking place across various locations in the Philippines, including coastal areas facing the disputed South China Sea and near the Taiwan Strait.

This year’s exercises involve over 17,000 participants, including approximately 10,000 from the U.S. military, along with forces from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand—some joining as active participants for the first time. The Philippine armed forces are showcasing newly acquired weapons systems such as the BrahMos missiles, and American, Japanese, and allied troops are expected to deploy advanced capabilities like Japan’s Type 83 and Type 88 anti-ship missiles, as well as U.S. maritime drone technology equipped with explosives.

The drills will consist of integrated air and missile defense operations, maritime interdiction, counter-landing live-fire exercises, and coordinated multinational readiness training. Notably, live-fire sinking drills are planned off the coast of northern Luzon and in the Zambales province, near the South China Sea, including a missile exercise targeting a mock enemy ship approximately 40 kilometers offshore. For the first time, maritime strike drills are also being conducted on the remote island of Itbayat.

Philippine Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner emphasized the importance of the exercises in testing combat readiness under "real-world conditions," reinforcing the alliance’s commitment to regional security and resilience. While Brawner did not explicitly name any country during the opening ceremony, the drills occur against the backdrop of rising tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines, along with other claimants such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, contests China’s extensive territorial claims and increased military presence.

U.S. military leaders described the exercises as a clear demonstration of Washington’s ongoing strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region despite ongoing commitments elsewhere, particularly in the Middle East. Lieutenant General Christian Wortman, overseeing the joint forces, reiterated the United States’ commitment to the Philippines and the region, underscoring the alliance’s role in upholding international law and maintaining freedom of navigation in contested waters.

China has voiced objections to the Balikatan exercises, characterizing them as efforts to contain its global rise, but Philippine officials maintain the drills are defensive in nature and also serve humanitarian preparedness objectives. The U.S. continues to affirm mutual defense obligations under its treaty alliance with the Philippines, pledging to respond if Filipino forces come under armed attack.

This year’s Balikatan marks the largest such exercise to date, reflecting Manila’s expanding network of security partnerships in the region amidst geopolitical competition and evolving security challenges.