FILE - PCG officers aboard BRP Capones salute French Navy frigate FS Prairial during a passing exercise at the waters of South China Sea on March 20, 2023. Picture by CG District North Western Luzon.
France will join in this year's Balikatan joint military exercises that will focus more on maritime in areas of the far-northern Philippines close to Taiwan, military officials confirmed.
Balikatan,” which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog, got underway last year after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to allay public fears that a beefed-up American military presence in the country would unnecessarily draw the Southeast Asian country into a conflict in case China attacked Taiwan.
Last year, at least 17,600 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia participated in the drills.
Col. Mike Logico, Director, Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint and Combined training Center, said that they considered last year’s exercises the biggest until they hold the next one.
“This coming Balikatan, France – the French Navy – is joining for a certain limited number of events. We will be having of course the US and contingent from the Australian Defense Force,”
Col. Mike Logico
Logico didn’t give exact details as to how many sailors and ships from the French Navy will join in the annual training.
Areas being considered for the venue include the uninhabited Mavulis Island and Basco town in Batanes province.
Batanes is the smallest province in the Philippines. Surrounded by 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) of sea, the province’s total land mass is 203.2 square kilometers (78.4 square miles) – one third the size of Metro Manila.
Because of the tension between Taiwan and China, Batanes has gained attention lately as a potential flashpoint in the geopolitical struggle between China and the U.S., its geopolitical rival and close ally of both Taiwan and the Philippines.
“It is important to know the limitations of our capabilities and how our treaty allies help fill in the gaps. So, in order for us to deal with the border security issues, we are also leveraged with our allies,” Logico said.
According to the military official they are working on the participation of the Japanese Defense Force and the normal contingent of observers.
“We don’t have the exact number for now. But the difference between now and last year is that we are exercising in key positions across the country. We are going for quality aside from the quantity,” he said.
“We focus now on maritime and air capabilities to include our capabilities in the littorals. That’s going to be the direction we are heading as we are transitioning away from internal security threats to external defense,” he added.
In December last year, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro met and signed a letter of intent in Manila to boost bilateral defense cooperation.
“We intend to take concrete steps to level up and make more comprehensive our defense cooperation. That includes seeking authority from their leaders to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement,” Tedoro said in a statement.
The upcoming 39th edition of the annual exercise is under the countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), is designed to enhance force capability and strengthen cooperation in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Signed in 1951, the MDT calls on both countries to aid each other in times of aggression by an external power. In previous pronouncements, the Pentagon said it was prepared to assist Manila if it invoked the treaty amid threats from other nations.
China so far has not made any comments about the planned exercises.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/02/france-to-join-balikatan-joint-military-exercise-in-the-philippines/
France will join in this year's Balikatan joint military exercises that will focus more on maritime in areas of the far-northern Philippines close to Taiwan, military officials confirmed.
Balikatan,” which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog, got underway last year after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to allay public fears that a beefed-up American military presence in the country would unnecessarily draw the Southeast Asian country into a conflict in case China attacked Taiwan.
Last year, at least 17,600 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia participated in the drills.
Col. Mike Logico, Director, Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint and Combined training Center, said that they considered last year’s exercises the biggest until they hold the next one.
“This coming Balikatan, France – the French Navy – is joining for a certain limited number of events. We will be having of course the US and contingent from the Australian Defense Force,”
Col. Mike Logico
Logico didn’t give exact details as to how many sailors and ships from the French Navy will join in the annual training.
Areas being considered for the venue include the uninhabited Mavulis Island and Basco town in Batanes province.
Batanes is the smallest province in the Philippines. Surrounded by 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) of sea, the province’s total land mass is 203.2 square kilometers (78.4 square miles) – one third the size of Metro Manila.
Because of the tension between Taiwan and China, Batanes has gained attention lately as a potential flashpoint in the geopolitical struggle between China and the U.S., its geopolitical rival and close ally of both Taiwan and the Philippines.
“It is important to know the limitations of our capabilities and how our treaty allies help fill in the gaps. So, in order for us to deal with the border security issues, we are also leveraged with our allies,” Logico said.
According to the military official they are working on the participation of the Japanese Defense Force and the normal contingent of observers.
“We don’t have the exact number for now. But the difference between now and last year is that we are exercising in key positions across the country. We are going for quality aside from the quantity,” he said.
“We focus now on maritime and air capabilities to include our capabilities in the littorals. That’s going to be the direction we are heading as we are transitioning away from internal security threats to external defense,” he added.
In December last year, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro met and signed a letter of intent in Manila to boost bilateral defense cooperation.
“We intend to take concrete steps to level up and make more comprehensive our defense cooperation. That includes seeking authority from their leaders to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement,” Tedoro said in a statement.
The upcoming 39th edition of the annual exercise is under the countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), is designed to enhance force capability and strengthen cooperation in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Signed in 1951, the MDT calls on both countries to aid each other in times of aggression by an external power. In previous pronouncements, the Pentagon said it was prepared to assist Manila if it invoked the treaty amid threats from other nations.
China so far has not made any comments about the planned exercises.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/02/france-to-join-balikatan-joint-military-exercise-in-the-philippines/
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