US Marines to stay as Philippines readies for multinational drills

A DETACHMENT of US marines will remain in the Philippines as the country is set to host joint military exercises with Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, with their forces focusing on coastal defense and special operations as China remains assertive in the contested South China Sea.

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Soldiers of the US Marines' 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) will remain in the Philippines for Exercise Kamandag — Filipino for poison — a multinational military drill from May 26 to June 6 across Luzon, following the recently concluded Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drills.

"At the invitation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the forward-deployed marines with 3rd MLR will remain in the Philippines for Exercise Kamandag 9," the US marine regiment said in a statement on Monday.

Exercise Kamandag, which started in 2016, is an annual exercise between the Philippines and US marines. This year, it will include forces from Japan's Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea's Marine Corps and the UK Armed Forces.