The US and Philippine military exercises began, 5,000 soldiers participate

The Philippine and American soldiers began three -week joint military exercises on Monday, and they were focused on the territorial defense and large -scale maneuvers, the Filipin army said.

About 5,000 soldiers from the Philippine army and the US army in the Pacific will participate in the fighting and exchanges of expertise in the first phase of this year’s Salaknib exercise. The second phase is planned later this year.

US Defense Minister Peta Hegsetth should travel to Manila this week to meet with Philippine leaders and military forces, Pentagon reported.

Exercises will focus on the strengthening of combined operations between the armies, the large -scale maneuvers, the exercises of the battlefield and the territorial defense, the Filipin army said.

Security engagement between the two nations increased under the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Mladi, who approached the United States.

Salanib exercises began in 2016 and represented the annual engagement between the two allies, which is part of the wider training Balikatan.

Marcos is a priority question to support the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the southern China Sea and has repeatedly clashed with China for its actions in the controversial waterway, which also applies to the constant presence of Beijing Coast Guard near the controversial features in the Maritime Zone Manila.

Hegsetth is the first administration official to visit Manili since US President Donald Trump assumed his duty in January. Lloyd Austin, Minister of Defense during the Joe Biden’s term, said the US Union with the Philippines transcends changes in administrations.

The Philippines have secured an exemption from a quarterly suspension of financing that Trump ordered in January so they can get $ 336 million for the modernization of their security forces.