Overview

• 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.