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The 2024 Balikatan Exercise, the largest annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the U.S., commenced with an opening ceremony at the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Headquarters in Manila on 22 April 2022. This year’s exercise marks the 39th iteration of the annual event, showcasing the Ironclad Alliance and the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Over 11,000 American soldiers and 5,000 Filipino troops, a total of 16,700 personnel will be jointly training in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Palawan, and Zambales in this year’s iteration of the Balikatan exercise. Contingent from U.S. and Philippine Coast Guard, Special Task Force of Philippine National Police, Australian Defense Force and the French Navy, for the first time in Balikatan’s history, will also join the exercise and drills as participants. 
It will be also the first time the maritime exercises are carried out beyond Philippines’ 12 nautical miles territorial waters, but within Manila’s Exclusive Economic zones, in parts of open sea claimed by China.
Meanwhile, another 14 nations will participate as part of the international observers. These are the like-minded countries from the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, G7 and European Union, India, New Zealand and Republic of Korea.
During this year’s Balikatan, participants will execute a range of complex missions across domains, including maritime security, sensing, and targeting, air and missile defense, dynamic missile strikes, cyber defense, and information operations. The Philippine Navy, U.S. Navy, Australian Defense Force and the French Navy will also conduct a Multilateral Maritime Exercise in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking military officials from both countries, including Maj. Gen. Marvin N. Licudine. Commander Armed Forces of the Philippines, Education Training and Doctrine Command, and the Philippine Exercise Director. And U.S. Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces in Pacific and the U.S. Exercise Director.


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