US Opens Record Drills With Philippines as Iran War Rattles Allies

Article content(Bloomberg) — The US opened its largest defense exercises with the Philippines on Monday, underscoring how Washington is sustaining military presence in the Indo Pacific to counter China amid war in the Middle East.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThis year’s “Balikatan” military exercises will also see a record number of troops, with participating nations sending more than 17,000 troops to maritime and live-fire exercises. These include Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe kickoff of the annual US-Philippine military drills comes a day after China dispatched a group of warships to hold drills in the western Pacific Ocean as Japan for the first time joins the Balikatan – “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog – exercises. Article contentArticle content“Regardless of the challenges elsewhere in the world, the United States’ focus on the Indo Pacific and our ironclad commitment to the Philippines remain unwavering,” US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Christian Wortman said during the opening of the drills at the Philippine military headquarters in Manila.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentJapan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is also expected to observe a ship-sinking drill next month.Article contentThe expanded drills are being held amid fresh tensions in the Iran war. The conflict has caused crude costs to surge, threatening to slow down economic growth across Asia. It has also strained the US’ relations with allies, while leaving Washington looking weakened against adversaries. Article contentAhead of the drills, the US struck a reassuring tone. US Colonel Robert Bunn, a spokesperson for the event, earlier highlighted the region’s importance and America’s commitment to its alliances.Article contentThe military exercises are also being conducted under the shadow of China’s lingering tensions with key US allies in Asia. Beijing last week accused Tokyo of stirring “trouble” with the presence of a Japanese Self-Defense Forces vessel in the Taiwan Strait.Article contentArticle contentChina and the Philippines have been locked in a spat in the disputed South China Sea, with Beijing’s alleged use of cyanide and flares recently inflaming tensions. As his government contends with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has strengthened the Philippines’ defense alliance with the US, while also entering into recent military agreements with France, Canada and New Zealand.Article contentThe expansion of this year’s exercises “shows that more and more nations are working towards a common goal, that is to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Philippine military spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla.

The Southeast Asian nation’s armed forces has also maintained that the drills are not based on any geopolitical rivalry.Article contentTrending US Seizes Iranian Ship in Blockade, Casting Doubt on Peace Talks PMN Business Posthaste: Why Canadians might be doomed to suffer a 'new normal' for oil prices News Bank of Canada's Macklem says he has spoken to Fed chair about risks from Anthropic's Mythos AI model Banking Brace for gas price 'shock' in inflation numbers out Monday, say economists Economy 'The impacts are massive': U.S. tariff change pushes Canadian manufacturers to the brink Economy Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. US Seizes Iranian Ship in Blockade, Casting Doubt on Peace Talks PMN Business Posthaste: Why Canadians might be doomed to suffer a 'new normal' for oil prices News Bank of Canada's Macklem says he has spoken to Fed chair about risks from Anthropic's Mythos AI model Banking Brace for gas price 'shock' in inflation numbers out Monday, say economists Economy 'The impacts are massive': U.S. tariff change pushes Canadian manufacturers to the brink Economy