Balikatan 2024: Largest-Ever US-Philippines Military Drills Begin Amid Regional Tensions
The joint exercises, involving over 16,700 troops, aim to enhance interoperability and regional security, despite protests and concerns over escalating tensions in the South China Sea
- More than 16,700 troops from the Philippines, the US, and other nations participate in the Balikatan 2024 exercises, the largest in decades.
- The drills include maritime, air, and missile defense operations, extending beyond the Philippines' territorial waters for the first time.
- Protests in the Philippines and criticism from China highlight concerns that the exercises could exacerbate regional tensions.
- New missile systems and a US proposal for $2.5 billion in military aid to the Philippines coincide with the drills, aiming to bolster Manila's defensive capabilities.
- Observers from 14 countries, including Japan and India, and participants from Australia and France, underscore the international scope of the exercises.
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