The 2023 Balikatan exercises between Philippine and US security forces were deemed successful, according to the Philippine military. The exercises ran smoothly, with minimal difficulties experienced. In a briefing, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar noted that the exercises helped the Philippine military as it pivoted from internal security to territorial defense operations upon the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Plans are underway to expand next year’s Balikatan exercises, with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson saying they will be more complex and challenging. More than 17,000 Filipino and American troops joined this year’s Balikatan exercises, which took place from April 24 to 27 amid brewing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region over the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines.
