AFP: Bigger ‘Balikatan 2024’ in April

U.S. troops look on as Philippine military cadets train at a naval base where the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called “Balikatan” or shoulder-to-shoulder are held in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 26, 2023. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The 39th iteration of war games between the Philippines and the United States in April will be the biggest ever, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Fransel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday.

Padilla, however, noted that the Balikatan exercises will lean on quality rather than quantity, and will be held in key locations.

 “I don’t have with me the exact details of the number, but it’s gonna happen in April, and it’s gonna be bigger than last time and involving more key positions,” Padilla said in a regular press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.

“Aside from quantity, we will heavily lean on towards quality training,” Padilla added.

Last year’s iteration of the Balikatan exercises was so far the largest with over 17,400 troops taking part.

“We will build upon the success of the last Balikatan,” she said.