Philippines, U.S. Kick off Army Drills Ahead of Hegseth Visit

Philippines Army Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid discusses activities for SABAK 2025 with 25th U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jonathan A Velishka during the joint opening ceremony of SABAK 2025 at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija on March 24, 2025. Image via the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippine and U.S. militaries kicked off joint exercises involving a combined 5,000 troops on Monday, Manila said, days before new U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was set to visit the Southeast Asian country.

The weeks-long operation, an opening salvo of the broader Balikatan exercises that will include the countries’ navies and air forces next month, comes as tensions with China over the disputed South China Sea are at a high.

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by Agence France-Presse

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