MANILA, Philippines- Magsisimula nang magplano ang Philippine at US military officials para sa 41st iteration o pag-ulit ng Balikatan exercises na gagawin sa susunod na taon.
Sinabi ni Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. na ang annual joint military exercise ngayong taon sa pagitan ng Maynila at Washington ay opisyal na nagtapos, araw ng Biyernes, Mayo 9.
“Today, we are forging not only stronger armed forces, but a more secure world. As we look ahead, may the success of Balikatan 40-2025 serve as a foundation for enhanced collaboration, sustained engagement, and greater inclusivity in future exercises, promoting peace, prosperity, and stability in our region and beyond,” ang sinabi ni Brawner sa kanyang naging talumpati sa Balikatan closing ceremony sa Camp Aguinaldo sa Quezon City.
Para sa tatlong linggo, 14,000 Filipino at American troops ang nagpartisipa sa serye ng ‘joint ground, air, at naval drills’ na naglalayon at paghusayin ang interoperability ng magkabilang puwersa.
“Beyond the technical achievements, however, the most valuable outcome has been the enhanced mutual trust, deeper understanding, and renewed commitment to shared security goals,” ayon kay Brawner.
“Balikatan is not merely a series of military exercises. It is a demonstration of enduring partnerships and collaborative resolve. It embodies our collective readiness to act in unison, underscoring that our greatest strength lies in unity. Moreover, this exercise reaffirms our dedication to peace, stability, and resilience across the Indo-Pacific region,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
“We also acknowledge the positive effects of our humanitarian initiatives, supporting education, delivering medical care, and fostering local development. Although these contributions may not make headlines, they are indeed vital to building a stable and inclusive community.”
Sinanay din ang Filipino at US forces kasama ang Australia at Japan.
Idagdag pa ang mga tauhan mula sa 18 bansa na nagpartisipa bilang international observers.
“As we get ready to close this 40th iteration of Exercise Balikatan, we mark not just the end of another successful training evolution, but the continuation of a proud tradition. For more than four decades, Balikatan has stood as a testament to the strength of the US and the Philippine alliance, rooted in shared values and beliefs, shaped by history, and vital to the future of a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific,” ang sinabi ni US 1st Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm.
“This year, we reaffirmed a critical truth. Our alliances and partnerships are a strategic advantage in any scenario, be it conflict, crisis, or humanitarian response,” patuloy ng opisyal.
“Together with the AFP, we put the D in deterrence, defense, and don’t mess with us,” ang sinabi naman ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Humanga naman ang Kalihim sa “deterrent effect” ng exercise at nagbiro ukol sa kung paano ang sinasabing target, ang decommissioned BRP Miguel Malvar, lumubog bago pa ang maritime strike sa Zambales began.
“I’m very impressed with the deterrent effect of these exercises because even before the live fire exercise, Miguel Malvar wouldn’t have wanted to have felt the combined efforts of our forces and took a leave beforehand,” ang winika ni Teodoro.
Sinabi pa ng Kalihim na ang Pilipinas ay dapat na “build strong fences” at maging resilient sa gitna ng “forces of different persuasions who do not understand the rule of law and whose perceptions of good faith may differ from ours.”
“The best way to make ourselves more resilient is to build strong fences, and these exercises together with and amongst our partners and future partners are part of those fence posts that we need to build in order to deter any malign actor from interfering with what international law provides each and every one of us,” giit niya.
Sinabi pa niya na ang pagsasanay sa susunod na taon ay hindi lamang pagsasanay sa pagpapatupad subalit “will go deep down into the assumptions” kung bakit ang Pilipinas at US forces ay pagsasanay na shoulder-to-shoulder.
“This being the 40th iteration which culminated in the full battle exercise, what the President, Secretary Ano and I would want to see is not only the execution of next year’s exercises, but more importantly the choice of exercises, what you are going to be doing and where you are going to be doing them, what terrain you are going to operate in, what environments you are going to operate in, how do you meld with the civilians, and how the civil infrastructure and supply routes work… in order to see [that] what you plan for is aligned with how the leadership determines [where] we want the armed forces to go to and what we need to be preparing for,” ang paliwanag ni Teodoro. Kris Jose
