Australia may join Balikatan, RP may join Aussie drills — DND

From the Daily Tribune (Nov 12): Australia may join Balikatan, RP may join Aussie drills — DND

Philippine (RP) and Australian defense authorities are now mulling over the participation of Australian troops in the annual “Balikatan” exercises with US troops, making way for possible “trilateral” training exercises among the three countries’ militaries. Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the matter was discussed during a strategic bilateral dialogue between the DND and Australian defense officials. Galvez, however, stressed that nothing was definite yet. “That will still be discussed, that is still under planning… it’s like they (Australians) will be observers,” said Galvez of the initial discussion. In a press release, the DND said the RP-Australia joint defense cooperation committee convened for the first time last Oct. 24 and 25 after the ratification of the RP-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (Sovfa) by the Senate last July. Aside from the possible participation of Australian troops in the “Balikatan,” the DND also said the Australian government vowed continuous assistance in the Philippines’ defense capacity-building.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/6771-australia-may-join-balikatan-rp-may-join-aussie-drills-—-dnd
“Explored in the meeting were Australian troops taking part in RP-US Balikatan Exercises while Philippine forces joining the Australian Kakadu and Pitch Black Exercises,” the DND statement said.
“Australia would continue to contribute to Philippine defense capacity building, offering a number of graduate and training courses as well as subject matter experts and mobile training teams for 2013,” it added.