Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States. The Tagalog word balikatan means "shoulder-to-shoulder".[1] The exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippines–United States military relations since the closure of U.S. bases in the Philippines.[2]
Task Force Regulars, headed by 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Philippine Army, completed a Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise during Balikatan 2019 at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Philippines, April 10, 2019
Philippine army Lt. Col. Henry Bellan, left, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Garrity bury a time capsule during the construction of a footbridge in San Narciso, Zambales, Balikatan 2013
U.S. Marines participated in a martial arts class taught by Philippine Marine Corps instructors, Balikatan 2010 (BK '10)
U.S. Navy captains are briefed on Philippine and U.S. Navy events at a pre-sail conference aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, Balikatan 2008
Philippine Marines and villagers from Tiptipon, Jolo pose with U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Service Support Group, Balikatan 2006.
The U.S. acquired the Philippines after the Spanish–American War of 1898 and the subsequent Philippine–American War. The United States granted the Philippines independence in 1946.[4] In 1951, the governments of the United States and the Philippines signed the Mutual Defense Treaty to "strengthen the fabric of peace" in the Pacific by agreeing to defend each other's territory in the case of external attack.[5] In line with this treaty, the United States maintained until 1992 several military bases in the Philippines, including U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay and the Clark Air Base.
In 1998, following the bases' closure, the Visiting Forces Agreement (Philippines – United States) (VFA) was signed which contained guidelines for the conduct and protection of American troops visiting the Philippines and stipulated the terms and conditions for the American military to enter Philippine territory. The VFA is a reciprocal agreement in that also outlines the requirements for Philippine troops visiting the United States.[6]
The Visiting Forces Agreement led to the establishment of the Balikatan exercises, as well as a variety of other cooperative measures.[7]
Operations
The Balikatan exercises are designed to maintain and develop the security relationship between the two countries' armed forces through crisis-action planning, through enhanced training to conduct counterterrorism operations, and through promoting interoperability of the forces.[8]
Over the years the exercises have expanded to include surrounding other countries in Southeast Asia. The training has also had a shifting focus. During the U.S.-led "War on Terror" the annual Balikatan Exercises focused on training for counterterrorism missions.[8] There has been some controversy over these exercises; a growing number of Philippine people are angry over the continued presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines.[9]
These military exercises contribute directly to the Philippine armed forces' efforts to root out Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah and bring development to formerly insurgent-held areas, notably Basilan and Jolo. They include not only combined military training but also civil-military operations and humanitarian projects. The International Military Education and Training (IMET) program is the largest in the Pacific and the third-largest in the world, and a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was signed in November 2002.
Balikatan 2022
The 2022 Balikatan exercise (Bailkatan 22) brought together over 5,100 US military personnel and 3,800 Filipino soldiers for training in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief in various parts of Luzon from March 28 to April 8 of the said year. The exercise also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and U.S. forces’ ability to plan, command, and communicate with each other in a simulated environment. This training also bolster the collective security and defensive capabilities of the alliance. Renovation of elementary schools, community health initiatives, and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques were among the collaborative efforts. [10]
"Balikatan" is a Tagalog term that means "shoulder-to-shoulder" or "sharing the load together," which characterizes the spirit of the exercise and symbolizes the Philippines-US friendship. "Balikatan 22 coincides with the 75th anniversary of US-Philippine security cooperation and a shared commitment to promoting peace," Maj. Gen. Bargeron stated. “Our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Exercises like Balikatan help to strengthen international alliances and the participating militaries' abilities to respond quickly to emergencies in the Indo-Pacific.
^Talabong, Rambo (April 1, 2019). "PH, U.S. armed forces open Balikatan 2019". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
^Tritten, Travis J. (April 15, 2011). "U.S. Philippines wrap up annual Balikatan exercise". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
^ abcFonbuena, Carmela (May 17, 2014). "Australia joins Balikatan war games for the first time". Rappler. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
^"Philippines: A Country Study" Federal Research Division, U.S. Library of Congress
^The Avalon Project, "Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines; August 30, 1951", Avalon Project Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library
^"Visiting Forces Agreement" U.S. Department of State, 1998
^"Frequently Asked Questions: Visiting Forces Agreement" Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement
^ abCamp General Emilio Aguinaldo, "PH-US Balikatan Exercises to Start in May" Armed Forces of the Philippine, April 21, 2014
^Sandy Araneta, "Student activists protesting Balikatan deface US embassy seal" The Philippine Star, April 17, 2012
^"37th Iteration of Balikatan Exercise Set to Begin in the Philippines". U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balikatan.
Official Facebook page
January 07, 2023
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Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States The Tagalog word balikatan means shoulder to shoulder 1 The exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippines United States military relations since the closure of U S bases in the Philippines 2 Task Force Regulars headed by 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team 2nd Infantry Division and the 1st Brigade Combat Team Philippine Army completed a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise during Balikatan 2019 at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base Philippines April 10 2019 Philippine army Lt Col Henry Bellan left and U S Army Lt Col John Garrity bury a time capsule during the construction of a footbridge in San Narciso Zambales Balikatan 2013 U S Marines participated in a martial arts class taught by Philippine Marine Corps instructors Balikatan 2010 BK 10 U S Navy captains are briefed on Philippine and U S Navy events at a pre sail conference aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex Balikatan 2008 Philippine Marines and villagers from Tiptipon Jolo pose with U S Marines and Sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Service Support Group Balikatan 2006 Australian armed forces have participated in Balikatan exercises annually since 2014 3 Australia has a visiting forces agreement a type of a status of forces agreement with the Philippines called Philippines Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement 3 The Philippines is open to other allied countries participating provided that they too have a similar forces agreement 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Operations 3 Balikatan 2022 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditThe U S acquired the Philippines after the Spanish American War of 1898 and the subsequent Philippine American War The United States granted the Philippines independence in 1946 4 In 1951 the governments of the United States and the Philippines signed the Mutual Defense Treaty to strengthen the fabric of peace in the Pacific by agreeing to defend each other s territory in the case of external attack 5 In line with this treaty the United States maintained until 1992 several military bases in the Philippines including U S Naval Base Subic Bay and the Clark Air Base In 1998 following the bases closure the Visiting Forces Agreement Philippines United States VFA was signed which contained guidelines for the conduct and protection of American troops visiting the Philippines and stipulated the terms and conditions for the American military to enter Philippine territory The VFA is a reciprocal agreement in that also outlines the requirements for Philippine troops visiting the United States 6 The Visiting Forces Agreement led to the establishment of the Balikatan exercises as well as a variety of other cooperative measures 7 Operations EditThe Balikatan exercises are designed to maintain and develop the security relationship between the two countries armed forces through crisis action planning through enhanced training to conduct counterterrorism operations and through promoting interoperability of the forces 8 Over the years the exercises have expanded to include surrounding other countries in Southeast Asia The training has also had a shifting focus During the U S led War on Terror the annual Balikatan Exercises focused on training for counterterrorism missions 8 There has been some controversy over these exercises a growing number of Philippine people are angry over the continued presence of U S troops in the Philippines 9 These military exercises contribute directly to the Philippine armed forces efforts to root out Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah and bring development to formerly insurgent held areas notably Basilan and Jolo They include not only combined military training but also civil military operations and humanitarian projects The International Military Education and Training IMET program is the largest in the Pacific and the third largest in the world and a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement MLSA was signed in November 2002 Balikatan 2022 EditThe 2022 Balikatan exercise Bailkatan 22 brought together over 5 100 US military personnel and 3 800 Filipino soldiers for training in maritime security amphibious operations live fire training urban operations aviation operations counterterrorism humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in various parts of Luzon from March 28 to April 8 of the said year The exercise also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and U S forces ability to plan command and communicate with each other in a simulated environment This training also bolster the collective security and defensive capabilities of the alliance Renovation of elementary schools community health initiatives and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques were among the collaborative efforts 10 Balikatan is a Tagalog term that means shoulder to shoulder or sharing the load together which characterizes the spirit of the exercise and symbolizes the Philippines US friendship Balikatan 22 coincides with the 75th anniversary of US Philippine security cooperation and a shared commitment to promoting peace Maj Gen Bargeron stated Our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo Pacific region Exercises like Balikatan help to strengthen international alliances and the participating militaries abilities to respond quickly to emergencies in the Indo Pacific See also EditPhilippines geostrategyOperation Enduring Freedom Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement Operation Balikatan 2003 Regional geostrategyBelt and Road Initiative China containment policy China United States relations Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Malabar naval exercise List of disputed territories of China String of Pearls Indian Ocean Territorial disputes in the South China SeaReferences Edit Talabong Rambo April 1 2019 PH U S armed forces open Balikatan 2019 Rappler Retrieved June 1 2019 Tritten Travis J April 15 2011 U S Philippines wrap up annual Balikatan exercise Stars and Stripes Retrieved May 15 2014 a b c Fonbuena Carmela May 17 2014 Australia joins Balikatan war games for the first time Rappler Retrieved July 17 2014 Philippines A Country Study Federal Research Division U S Library of Congress The Avalon Project Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines August 30 1951 Avalon Project Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library Visiting Forces Agreement U S Department of State 1998 Frequently Asked Questions Visiting Forces Agreement Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement a b Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo PH US Balikatan Exercises to Start in May Armed Forces of the Philippine April 21 2014 Sandy Araneta Student activists protesting Balikatan deface US embassy seal The Philippine Star April 17 2012 37th Iteration of Balikatan Exercise Set to Begin in the Philippines U S Embassy in the Philippines 2022 03 22 Retrieved 2022 04 05 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balikatan Official Facebook page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balikatan amp oldid 1121967925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
