Editorial: PH-US ‘Balikatan’ boosts alliance in ‘free, open’ seas

Editorial posted to the Manila Times (Apr 24, 2021): PH-US ‘Balikatan’ boosts alliance in ‘free, open’ seas

THE Philippines and the United States ended its 36th Balikatan Exercise (shoulder-to-shoulder) on Friday amid the coronavirus pandemic with the promise of advancing the two countries’ “military-to-military partnership in pursuit of a shared commitment to mutual defense in a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“The successful conduct of this year’s Balikatan Exercise 36-2021 has definitely brought us a step closer toward our goal of capacitating our forces and, as such, will consequently contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region,” said AFP Chief of Staff Cirilito Sobejana at the closing ceremonies at the Camp Aguinaldo General Headquarters in Quezon City.

“Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, both Filipino and American forces were able to achieve the objectives of this year’s Balikatan Exercise — to train together on defense and security efforts, leveraging on the capability, experience and strength of both militaries’ long standing friendship,” said Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Education Training and Doctrine Command.

“Balikatan showcases the strength and resolve of the Philippine-US alliance,” said US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law. “These exercises demonstrate and improve our ability to jointly respond to crises. But training is never over. We will continue to advance our military-to-military partnership in pursuit of our shared commitment to mutual defense in a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed his gratitude to the US for its “unwavering support to this annual exercise and constant and continued assurance of the iron-clad commitment to our Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).”

Due to the global health crisis, Balikatan 2021 activities and participants were scaled down by both countries.

About 225 US military personnel and 415 AFP personnel participated in the exercises following health and safety protocols.

Major Balikatan 2021 events were held in Colonel Ernesto Ravina Airbase in Tarlac, where combined Air Force and Special Operations forces conducted close air support training.

The AFP Northern Luzon Command Battle Staff and US Indo-Pacific Command participants conducted staff exercise in Clark, Pampanga while Philippine and US Special Operations forces conducted a staff academic seminar in Taguig City.

Academic discussions were held virtually to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Philippine Air Force and US Pacific Air Forces conducted a virtual global health engagement and other virtual training on various air operations and capabilities.

Humanitarian and civic assistance activities began on March 26, prior to the opening of the exercises.

Philippine and US service members completed the construction of two classrooms and a daycare center in Plaridel, a classroom in Atimonan, and a health clinic in Mauban — all in Quezon Province.

Also present in the closing ceremony was Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, assistant deputy chief of staff for Training and Education of AFP and assistant exercise director of BK36-2021, and Col. Aaron Brunk of the US 3 Marine Expeditionary Force, officer in charge for the Exercise Support Group.

Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Filipino, embodies the alliance and friendship between the Philippines and US. This year’s exercises officially opened on April 12 and were conducted in Northern and Southern Luzon for two weeks.

The MDT between the Philippines and the US was signed on Aug. 30, 1951, in Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) and calls on both countries to defend each other in the event of an attack by another country.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/24/news/national/ph-us-balikatan-boosts-alliance-in-free-open-seas/867019/