PHL, US start ‘Salaknib’ military exercises, gird for biggest ‘Balikatan’ drills in April

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Troops of the Philippines and the United States started on March 13 their joint military exercises in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

More than 1,000 Filipino soldiers and more than 2,000 American soldiers belonging to the US Army Pacific (USARPAC) are taking part in the military exercises dubbed Salaknib Exercise 2023 (SN23) which concludes on April 4.

This as 17,600 Filipino and American troops, plus Australian and Japanese forces as observers, would participate in another military drills called the “Balikatan” Exercise touted to be the biggest such exercises scheduled from April 11 to 28.

During the “Balikatan,” the Americans will be bringing their Patriot surface-to-air missiles and the HIMARS rocket system, while the AFP will be using its FA-50PH jet fighters and newly-acquired artillery systems and missile frigates and are expected to join the Filipino troops in drills in the disputed areas in West Philippine Sea and international waters of the South China Sea.