The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started its preparations for the 38th iteration of the Balikatan Exercises with the United States Armed Forces in April.

The Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps perform an amphibious landing exercise in Claveria, Cagayan on March 31, 2022 as part of the 37th Balikatan Exercises. (File photo by Martin A. Sadongdong / MANILA BULLETIN)

Balikatan – which translates to “shoulder-to-shoulder” to characterize the spirit of the exercise and represent the alliance of the two countries – is the largest annual, Philippine-led bilateral exercise of the AFP with the US Armed Forces.

“The AFP and the US Armed Forces are once again holding the 38th iteration of annual bilateral Balikatan Exercises. Although this is a bilateral activity, the AFP takes the lead in planning and execution, supported by the US Armed Forces with other like-minded nations as observers,” Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson, said on Monday, Feb. 6.

“Balikatan 38-2023 will result in the development of the AFP capability not only in the conduct of external defense operations but also in fulfilling its obligation in working with other countries in the region against terrorism and other threats,” he added.

The tentative schedule for the conduct of the exercise is on the second week of April in the areas covered by the Palawan-based Western Command (WesCom), Cebu-based Visayas Command (VisCom), and Tarlac City-based Northern Luzon Command (NoLCom), according to Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office.

Lt. Gen. George W. Smith Jr., commanding general of the US Marine Expeditionary Force, visited the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Feb. 3 to discuss the preparations for the Balikatan.

The number of participating troops is also being ironed out by the AFP and US Armed Forces as well as the type of trainings that will be held by their militaries.

But state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) announced last month that around 16,000 Filipino and American troops are set to join this year's Balikatan which will be hosted by Ilocos Norte, Fuga Islands, Calayan Island in Cagayan, and Batanes.

Last year, Balikatan registered the highest number of participants with 8,900 servicemen joining the training as well as 40 observers from the Australian Defense Force.

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