President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed a joint live-fire sea drill on Wednesday, showcasing enhanced cooperation with the United States.
The drill, held near the Naval Education Training Doctrine Command (NETDC) in San Antonio, Zambales, involved approximately 1,400 military personnel from both countries and featured the use of various weapons systems, including artillery, rocket systems, and combat aircraft.
One of the highlights of the exercise was the use of the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a state-of-the-art precision strike weapons system that can be transported by C-130 aircraft.
The drill demonstrated the capabilities of the HIMARS and other weapons platforms in detecting, identifying, targeting, and engaging a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette used as the target ship.
The event emphasized the commitment of the U.S. and the Philippines to strengthen their military capabilities and interoperability to address modern security challenges.
Balikatan 2023, the largest annual exercise between the two allies, focused on enhancing cooperation in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, cyber defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness.
Key Philippine officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Security Adviser, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and other U.S. officials, were in attendance.
The Philippines is a major recipient of U.S. military assistance, equipment, and training in the region, and the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1951, is the longest-standing defense treaty in the Indo-Pacific region.
