DFA Witnesses Opening of 35th Balikatan Exercises

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella (third from left) joins top officials in discussing the Balikatan Exercises before the event’s opening ceremony with (from left) Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces (PCVF) Undersecretary Pedro Cesar Ramboanga Jr., Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson, US Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna (Photo by AFP Public Affairs Office)

02 April 2019 – The 35th Philippines-United States Balikatan Exercise 2019 was formally opened at the Tejeros Hall of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Commissioned Officers’ Club at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on 1 April 2019.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella joined officials such as Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson, and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim, who was the event’s guest of honor.

Also present were senior officials from the Department of National Defense and the AFP, and representatives from US and Australian forces.

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Ambassador Kim highlighted the importance of Balikatan in promoting peace and stability. “As friends, partners, and allies, we're not only protecting our own shared security, but also contributing greatly to the stability and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region” Ambassador Kim said.

Balikatan 2019, which will run from April 1 to 12, will be one of the biggest joint exercises in terms of the number of participants. Around 4,000 Filipino and 3,500 American forces will conduct counterterrorism training, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations training, aviation operations, bilateral planning, subject matter expert exchanges, and humanitarian and civic assistance projects throughout Luzon.

The exercises also include the participation of 50 members of the Australian Defence Force for humanitarian and civic assistance projects and special operations forces training. END

Philippine and United States officials formally open the 35th Balikatan Exercises. From left to right: Philippine Exercise Director and Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., and U.S. Exercise Director Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Christopher McPhillips. (Photo by AFP Public Affairs Office)