U.S. Soldiers, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, demonstrate breaching and clearing room techniques during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 11, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel James Lewis)
Unlike previous Balikatan exercises that highlighted territorial defense and maritime security, this year’s drills shifted its focus to disaster response and counterterrorism on the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The scaled down version of this year’s drills is linked to the President’s desire rebalance the country’s foreign policy. He wants the Philippines to become less dependent on United States and has started to develop warmer ties with China and Russia.
Last years, Duterte even declared the termination of Balikatan exercises. But softened his stance later.
He scrapped the other joint drills of the two countries – the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) and Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (Carat) – which focused on external and maritime security.
The counterterrorism activities were not open to the media, but the US military released some photos from the exercises.
The Balikatan exercises, which started on May 8, will run up to May 19. /atm
Philippine Army Sgt. Ronnie Pagjunasan explains the different types of improvised explosive devices during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 11, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel James Lewis)
U.S. Soldiers, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, demonstrate breaching and clearing room techniques during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 11, 2017.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel James Lewis)
Philippine Soldiers practice room clearing techniques during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 11, 2017.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel James Lewis)
Philippine and U.S. Soldiers fire M4 carbine weapons during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 9, 2017.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Casbarro)
A Philippine Soldier, 84th Infantry Battalion, fires an M4 carbine during counterterrorism training in support of Balikatan 2017 at Fort Magsaysay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, May 9, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Casbarro)
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