US runs largest Balikatan drill

The United States and the Philippines ended Balikatan 2026 on May 8 after running what both militaries described as the biggest version yet of their annual alliance exercise. More than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand took part across the Philippine archipelago from April 20 to May 8, according to U.S. and Philippine military statements. Japan’s role drew particular attention because its forces appeared in more operationally visible events than in past iterations, including live-fire and maritime strike activities. Chinese officials and outside analysts cited by regional media said the exercise would add to tensions around the South China Sea and Taiwan. ### How big was this year’s exercise? April 20 marked the start of the 41st Balikatan exercise, which the U.S. Marine Corps said would be the “most expansive” to date. The official opening statement said more than 17,000 personnel would train across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains, with another 17 nations joining as observers. The drill coincided with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty. (imef.marines.mil) May 8 brought the formal close in Camp Aguinaldo, where U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the exercise had become the “most expansive Balikatan to date.” Adm. Samuel Paparo, the U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, called it a “full-scale, multinational mission rehearsal for the defense of the Philippines.” (imef.marines.mil) ### Why did Japan’s role stand out this time? Japan was one of five ally and partner nations that joined the Philippine and U.S. forces in the exercise, but its participation was more visible in combat-oriented events. South China Morning Post reported that Japanese forces took part in missile and maritime operations that analysts described as a pointed signal of allied resolve. (pacom.mil) May 6 was the clearest example. The Philippine Army said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and senior military officers watched a maritime strike exercise in which Philippine, U.S., Japanese and Canadian forces used missile systems and aerial assets to hit and sink the decommissioned Philippine Navy warship BRP Quezon off Ilocos Norte. (pacom.mil) South China Morning Post reported that Japan’s Type 88 missile hit its target in less than six minutes during the closing phase of the drills. The same report said the U.S. Army also launched a Tomahawk from its Typhon system, the first operational firing of that launcher since it was deployed in the Philippines. (army.mil.ph) ### What were the forces actually practicing? Philippine and U.S. planners built the exercise around maritime security, coastal defense, logistics and joint fires. The opening release said the training would culminate in capstone events rehearsing warfighting skills in maritime security, coastal defense and combined fires, supported by ship-to-shore offloads and distributed logistics. (scmp.com) The closing statement said the combined force carried out all-domain live-fire events, including air and missile defense, counter-landing operations and maritime security and strike drills. It also listed anti-submarine warfare, replenishment at sea, deck-landing qualifications, aeromedical training, combat search-and-rescue and mass-casualty drills among the activities completed during the 19-day exercise. (imef.marines.mil) ### Why did the drill draw attention beyond Manila and Washington? South China Morning Post reported that analysts saw this year’s exercise as a message tied to the security environment around the South China Sea and Taiwan. Chris Gardiner, chief executive of the Institute for Regional Security NGO in Canberra, told the paper that the message was “Not today” to any attempt to use force against the Philippines or alter the status quo around Taiwan. (pacom.mil) The same report said China condemned Japan’s missile firing as the first overseas launch of an “offensive missile” by Tokyo in decades. Critics cited by the paper said the scale of the exercise could “exacerbate regional instability,” while supporters in official statements framed it as alliance readiness and defense cooperation. (scmp.com) ### What comes after Balikatan 2026? March logistics work and April-May field events showed that Balikatan now starts well before the formal opening ceremony. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said pre-exercise offloads and sustainment movements began in March, moving equipment from Mindanao through Subic Bay to training areas. (scmp.com) May 8 ended this year’s field phase, but Philippine and U.S. commanders used the closing ceremony to frame the exercise as part of continuing alliance planning. Any next iteration will be shaped by the same treaty structure, the same core Philippine-U.S. partnership and the participation choices of partner countries including Japan, Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand. (imef.marines.mil) (pacom.mil)