The Philippines and the United States began annual joint military exercises entitled “Salaknib Dan Balikatan (Sabak)”.
According to the Filipino Information Agency (PNA), the representative of the Filipino Army Colonel Louis Dema-Ala announced that the Sabak exercise with the participation of the Ground Forces began in the city of Nueva-Esikha.
Dema-ala said that at this stage of Sabak annual teachings will be attended by about 3 thousand military Philippine army and 2 thousand military Pacific Corps of the US Army (USARPAC).
According to Dema-ala, the doctrine of “Salaknib” will end on April 11th.
Sabak exercises are aimed at working out operational interaction, strengthening the combat effectiveness of the armies and demonstrating “solid determination” to protect the territorial integrity of the Philippines.
In local languages, “Salaknib” means “shield”, and “Balicatan” – “shoulder to shoulder”.
During the exercises, a certain reaction from China to the United States and the Philippines is possible. In April 2024, during the Balicatan exercises, the US military placed the Typhon Medium -Typhone missile system in the north of the Philippines, and Beijing repeatedly demanded that Manila remove this missile system.
The Minister of Defense Filippin Gilberto Theodoro rejected China’s request for the removal of the missile system, saying that this is an intervention in the internal affairs of the Philippines.