The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is looking forward to participate to the future iterations of Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military.
An Army CH-47 Chinook flies with an underslung M777 Howitzer from 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery during the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 is being conducted across northern Australia from July 22 to August 4, 2023 with more than 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations directly participating. (Photo courtesy of Australian Defence Force)
For now, the AFP deployed three Filipino soldiers as “observers” in the ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 in Queensland, according to Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, chief of AFP public affairs office.
“Our sending of personnel under the International Observers Program (IOP) of Exercise Talisman Sabre comes with the intent of sending participants in the near future. We have three officers who are there now as observers so we will have ‘informed decisions’ for participation in future Talisman Sabre exercises,” Ileto said on Sunday, July 23.
The Philippine contingent came from the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command (ETDC); Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training; and the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).
This was the first time that the AFP fielded observers to the Exercise Talisman Sabre. The drills are scheduled to take place at Shoal Water Bay Training Area and Lakeview Drop Zone in Queensland, Australia from July 20 to 27.
The opening ceremony of the exercise was held on-board HMAS Canberra, a Royal Australian Navy landing dock.
Now on its 10th iteration, the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 is the largest version of the drill in terms of the geographical area where the drills will take place and the number of participating partners.
Talisman Sabre 2023 involves more than 30,000 military personnel from 13 participating countries, according to the Australian Defence Force.
The participants were deployed across Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales as they train in high-end multi-domain warfighting across sea, land, air, cyber and space. For the first time, exercises will also take part around Norfolk Island, the Australian Defence Force added.
In addition to the US, personnel from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and the United Kingdom are also actively participating in the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is one of the four countries that sent observers along with India, Singapore, and Thailand.
“The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and develop strong relationships between participating military forces. It will involve field training exercises including force preparation and logistics activities, amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, air combat and maritime operations,” a statement from website of the Australian Defence Force read.
This year’s exercise occurred as Australia and US expressed concern over China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Reports said that a Chinese spy ship was spotted off the coast of Australia as the Exercise Talisman Sabre began.
In the Philippines, Ileto said the AFP’s potential participation to Exercise Talisman Sabre will be beneficial for the troops as it “aims to train military forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and its allies.”