By Alex 
The United States and the Philippines have launched their annual joint military exercises, known as Exercise Balikatan, with a focus on enhancing military cooperation and readiness. This year’s exercises, which run from April 21 to May 9, are the largest iteration of the bilateral drills, involving over 16,000 troops from both nations. The exercises aim to strengthen the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and improve combined military capabilities.
Key Components of Exercise Balikatan 2025
1. Full Battle Test: This year’s exercise features a Full Battle Test that incorporates real-world forces and events into a virtual and constructive exercise scenario. It will span all domains—air, land, sea, space, and cyber—testing the interoperability between US and Philippine forces.
2. Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA): Service members will carry out humanitarian missions at five locations across the Philippines, focusing on improving local infrastructure, sharing medical skills, and reinforcing ties with local communities.
3. Command and Control Exercise (C2X): This includes a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX), emphasizing combined joint all-domain operations and maritime security.
4. Multilateral Maritime Exercise (MME): The US Navy, Philippine Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will conduct joint naval activities along the coast of Luzon, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Broader Context and Implications
The joint exercises come amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has prioritized upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the disputed waterway and has repeatedly clashed with China over its actions in the region. The exercises are seen as a demonstration of the strong partnership between the Philippines and the United States, as well as a commitment to regional security and stability.
Additionally, the Philippines has secured an exemption from the 90-day funding freeze imposed by the US, allowing it to receive $336 million for the modernization of its security forces. This funding will support the Philippines’ efforts to enhance its military capabilities and address security challenges in the region.
The exercises also highlight the growing involvement of other regional partners. This year, forces from the Australian Defence Force and, for the first time, the Japan Self-Defense Force are participating alongside the US and Philippine troops. The participation of these allies underscores the importance of collective security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.