Around 6,000 servicemen from the Philippines and the US on May 5 began aseries of joint military exercises to enhance the former’s capabilityto cope with marine challenges.
Philippine Foreign SecretaryAlbert del Rosario said the 10-day drills aim to develop the country’snaval capacity to address any marine threats.
The ‘Balikatan’(shoulder to shoulder) exercises focus on search-and-rescue operationsalong with natural disaster and humanitarian scenarios.
Theycame a week after President Barack Obama reassured the US Government’scommitment to realising the 1951 bilateral defence cooperation agreementwith the Philippines.
Both countries have also signed a10-year mutual defence treaty that grants the US wider access to thePhilippine military bases.-VNA