Balikatan expands to seven nations

Exercise Balikatan 2026 ended on May 8 as the largest edition of the annual U.S.-Philippine military drills, with Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand joining the Philippines and the United States. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the 41st iteration was the “most expansive Balikatan to date,” while Philippine officials said more than 17,000 troops took part. The exercise has become a marker of how Manila is widening its security network as friction with China persists in the South China Sea. That broader alignment now extends beyond drills: Nikkei Asia reported on May 23 that Japan and the Philippines will begin talks this month on an intelligence-sharing pact, framed by officials as part of closer three-way cooperation with Washington. (pacom.mil) ### Which countries were in this year’s Balikatan, and what made it different? The seven participating nations were the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand, according to U.S. Army and Indo-Pacific Command statements. Philippine state media reported last month that more than 17,000 troops were expected to join the exercise. (asia.nikkei.com) May 8 marked the formal close of the drills after training that included maritime and coastal defense events. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the additional partner nations joined “from start to finish,” underscoring the multilateral character of an exercise that was originally centered on the U.S.-Philippine alliance. (army.mil) ### Why are Japan and the Philippines moving toward an intelligence pact now? Nikkei Asia reported on May 23 that Tokyo and Manila will begin talks this month on a military intelligence-sharing agreement. The report said officials cast the move as a way to deepen trilateral cooperation with the United States as the two U.S. allies respond to China’s actions in regional waters. (pacom.mil) Japan and the Philippines have already been building defense ties through other channels. Japan’s foreign ministry said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will make a state visit to Japan from May 26 to May 29, and recent Japanese and Philippine defense contacts have included work on equipment transfers and expanded military cooperation. ### What happened near Reed Bank? (asia.nikkei.com) The Philippine Coast Guard said on May 7 that a Chinese research vessel conducted what Manila called illegal marine scientific research near Reed Bank, an oil- and gas-rich area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Reuters reported the coast guard said the activity undermined Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights. (mofa.go.jp) Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, the Philippine Coast Guard commandant, said the agency would continue to challenge illegal activities in the area, according to Reuters and other reports. Beijing’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment at the time. (usnews.com) ### Why is Sara Duterte’s language being watched? Vice-President Sara Duterte has recently urged the armed forces to defend Philippine sovereignty, the South China Morning Post reported on May 23. The newspaper said analysts viewed the shift as a calibrated effort to sound firmer on the South China Sea without directly confronting Beijing. (usnews.com) Her comments come as maritime disputes remain central to Philippine politics and foreign policy. Marcos’ May 26-29 visit to Japan will bring those issues into another round of high-level talks, with Tokyo already one of Manila’s closest security partners in the region. ### What comes next? May 26 is the next key date. Japan’s foreign ministry said Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos will travel to Japan for a state visit through May 29, including meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (scmp.com) Nikkei Asia reported that Japan-Philippines intelligence-sharing talks are due to start this month, making the Tokyo visit the next immediate test of how far the two governments push their security coordination. (mofa.go.jp) (asia.nikkei.com)