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Reuters
Reuters
Politics
By Adrian Portugal

Philippines, U.S. hold live-fire exercises focused on territorial defence

A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise with Philippine and U.S. troops at the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Philippine troops staged live-fire exercises with their U.S. counterparts in the Southeast Asian country's largest military camp as part of army-to-army drills aimed at enhancing Manila's defence capabilities against external threats.

The drills come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's decision in February to expand the United States' access to his country's military bases - a move that has infuriated China, which accuses Washington of stoking tensions in the region.

A U.S. soldier drives a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) after a live fire exercise during the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

More than 3,000 Filipino and U.S. soldiers participated in the three-week long annual exercises called Salaknib, which on Friday featured anti-tank and small-arms live-fire exercises, and the firing of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars).

"We are now transitioning from internal security operations to territorial defence operations," Philippine army training officer Lt. Col. Tara Cayton, said in a news conference.

The live-fire drills took place at Fort Magsaysay in Luzon, the country's largest island, and one of the five existing sites the United States has access to under its Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with Manila.

A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise with Philippine and U.S. troops at the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Under that agreement, the United States can use the bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but not to maintain a permanent presence.

Fort Magsaysay will also host the biggest ever joint military drills between the Philippines and the United States next month, which highlight improved ties with the Western power under Marcos.

The annual 'Balikatan' exercises, which will see 17,600 participants from both sides, including around 12,000 from the United States, come against the backdrop of what the Philippines calls "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea.

A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is fired during a live fire exercise with Philippine and U.S. troops at the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

(Writing by Karen Lema; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)

A U.S. soldier uses a fire extinguisher after a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) caught fire during a live fire exercise with Philippine and U.S. troops at the three-week joint military drills "Salaknib" in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
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