MANILA, Philippines —The 2026 Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) exercises between the United States and the Philippines demonstrate their unwavering commitment to regional security, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing said.
The 41st edition of Balikatan brings together armed forces from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand from April 20 to May 8.
The exercise reaffirms the “ironclad alliance” between the United States and the Philippines, Ewing said during the Balikatan 2026 opening ceremony.
He added that the professionalism, dedication, and capability of the two nations’ joint and combined forces demonstrate their commitment to “a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“This year’s exercise is the largest in Balikatan’s history, underscoring both the depth of our bilateral ties and the strength of our growing network of like-minded partners,” Ewing said.
US and Philippine forces are conducting combined and joint operations across all domains—land, sea, air, cyber, and space—alongside the six other participating armed forces.
“These activities reflect not only the complexity of today’s security environment but also our shared commitment to readiness, interoperability, and collective defense,” Ewing added.
For the third time, France is participating in the Balikatan exercises.
It also marks the French Pacific Command’s (FRPACOM) first contribution to a major inter-allied exercise in the region, according to FRPACOM.
France is deploying about 20 military personnel to the multinational exercise headquarters staff, FRPACOM said in a statement shared by the French Embassy in Manila.
“This contribution, which focuses on centralized allied command, will enhance interoperability with regional allies and partners while contributing to stability and security in the area,” FRPACOM said.
France also participated in the 2024 and 2025 exercises, amid improving military cooperation with the Philippines, highlighted by the signing of a Visiting Forces Status Agreement on March 26, 2026, in Paris.
FRPACOM, based in Papeete, relies on two permanent forces representing 3,200 military personnel stationed in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
“Its objective is to facilitate information sharing and ensure the coherence and effectiveness of French military operations in the theater,” FRPACOM said.
“Through the reinforcement of its command structure, France reaffirms its status as a Pacific nation committed to regional stability,” it added.
