Representatives of 14 nations will arrive in the country as observers in the coming Balikatan exercises, the biggest multination assembly so far, to witness the annual joint drills originally conducted only by Philippine and US troops.
Organizers said this year's 39th iteration of the Balikatan - scheduled from April 22 to May 10 will have observers from Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Aside from the 16,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military, contingents from the Australian Defense Force and for the first time in Balikatan's history - the French Navy will also participate in the maneuver, particularly in the joint sail.
For this year, a multilateral maritime activity or joint sail in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will traverse the edge of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and launch attacks on an "enemy" vessel in Philippine waters, according to Lt.Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Combined Joint Information Bureau.
He said this year's Balikatan aims to bolster collaboration and readiness "across a spectrum of critical areas," including external defense operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and interagency capacity building.
Bu hikaye The Philippine Star dergisinin April 17, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Philippine Star dergisinin April 17, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
HMOs finally swing to profit In Q1
The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the application for registration of Metro Pacific Group's P2 billion dairy farm and processing facility in Laguna.
Ban on onion imports extended until July
The Philippines has extended the ban on the importation of onions until July to prevent a glut in local supplies following historic production levels, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
T-WOLVES, PACERS ADVANCE
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The Minnesota Timberwolves erased a 20-point deficit to stun Denver 98-90, knocking the defending NBA champions out of the playoffs Sunday as Indiana ousted the New York Knicks.
Blue Origin flies tourists to space, including oldest astronaut
WASHINGTON (AFP) After a nearly two-year hiatus, Blue Origin flew adventurers to space on Sunday, including a former Air Force pilot who was denied the chance to be the United States' first black astronaut decades ago.
New president Lai vows to defend Taiwan's democracy
New Taiwan President Lai Ching-te yesterday vowed to defend the island's democracy, as he called on China to end its military intimidation of the self-ruled island.
Iran president killed in helicopter crash
‘It wasn’t us,’ Israeli official tells Reuters
Drop in Angat water level slowing down
The drop in the water elevation in Angat Dam is slowing down again due to heavy downpours that occurred over Metro Manila and nearby areas in the past two days, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said yesterday.
Child rights defender to appeal conviction
The camp of child and women's rights advocate Sally Ujano will appeal the ruling of a Taguig court, which found her guilty of the crime of rebellion.
DILG: Canadian 'major player' in P9.6-B drug haul
The government is getting closer to dismantling the drug ring behind the P9.6-billion shabu shipment seized by authorities in Alitagtag, Batangas last month following the arrest of a Canadian suspect, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
PNP sacks 9 SAF members
Two members of the police Special Action Force who were arrested on May 18 for allegedly moonlighting as bodyguards in a village in Muntinlupa City were relieved from their posts along with seven other SAF officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.
