Ankara: The Philippines and US armies have commenced their annual joint military exercises, involving approximately 5,000 military personnel, as announced by the Philippine Army.

According to Anadolu Agency, the joint drill, known as Balikatan, which means 'shoulder-to-shoulder,' focuses on territorial defense and the execution of large-scale force deployments. The Philippine Army emphasized that the training is designed to enhance combined/joint all-domain operations, reinforce warfighting capabilities, and demonstrate a strong bilateral commitment to safeguarding the Philippines' territorial integrity.

The opening ceremony took place at Fort Magsaysay in the central Nueva Ecija region, featuring Maj. Gen. Leodevic B. Guinid, a senior commander in the Philippine Army. Approximately 3,000 Philippine Army personnel and 2,000 US Army Pacific troops are participating in the drills, which will include various combat training exercises.

The exercises are planned in two phases, with Phase 1 scheduled to run from March 24 to April 11, 2025, and Phase 2 to occur from May 19 to July 20, 2025, both at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.