Balikatan is an annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States designed to enhance military interoperability and readiness . The term “Balikatan” is a Tagalog phrase that means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” representing the alliance between the two countries .
Here’s a detailed overview of the Balikatan Exercise:
- Purpose: The exercise aims to strengthen the partnership between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military, improve combined capabilities, and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability . It supports the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines .
- Scope: Balikatan spans across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains . It involves a range of activities, including live-fire exercises, command and control simulations, humanitarian civic assistance, and maritime security operations .
- Participants: The exercise is primarily a bilateral event between the Philippines and the U.S., but it also includes participants and observers from other countries, such as Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and others .
- Balikatan 2025 Highlights:
- The 40th iteration of the exercise took place from April 21 to May 9, 2025 .
- It involved around 17,000 personnel, including 6,000 Filipino soldiers and 12,000 U.S. troops .
- Balikatan 2025 featured a “Full Battle Test” that integrated real-world forces and virtual scenarios .
- A Multilateral Maritime Event (MME) was held, featuring vessels from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan .
- The exercise included a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) operation and humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) activities .
- The U.S. deployed advanced capabilities, including anti-ship missiles, cutting-edge drones, and special operations forces .
- Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) training was conducted at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, involving U.S. Marines, U.S. Army soldiers, and Philippine Air Force personnel .
- The U.S. Marine Corps deployed the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) during the IAMD event .
- Conventional and special forces from the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force participated, focusing on integrated air and missile defence, counter-landing, sustainment, medical support, maritime strike, and multinational coordination .
- For the first time, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, and the Netherlands participated as observers .
- Locations: The exercise takes place across the Philippine archipelago . In 2025, training locations included Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui and Batanes .
- Advanced Capabilities: Balikatan 2025 saw the deployment of advanced U.S. military assets, such as the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which was deployed to Batanes .
