AN anti-ship missile system of the United States arrived in the Philippines on Monday for “Balikatan,” the annual military exercise between the American and Philippine armed forces, which is set to open next week.
Balikatan spokesman Brig. Gen. Michael Logico confirmed the arrival but declined to say the location of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) whose first-ever participation in the Balikatan was announced by US Defense Pete Hegseth during a visit to Camp Aguinaldo last month.
The Balikatan will formally open on Monday next week and close on May 9.
The US is deploying around 9,000 troops for the Balikatan, amid tension with China over its activities in the South China Sea and in Taiwan.
The Balikatan, which the Philippine military described as a rehearsal for national defense, will include some 5,000 Filipino troops, 200 from the Australia Defense Force, and observers from the Japan Self-Defense Force. For the first time, observers from countries like Poland and the Czech Republic will also participate.
Logico, in a media briefing, said 14,000 troops will participate in this year’s Balikatan exercise — 9,000 from the US side and 5,000 from the Philippine side. Last year’s Balikatan involved 16,000 troops — 11,000 from the US and 5,000 from the Philippines.
“Whether there is a reduction in the number of people, that is immaterial. What we are looking at is more purposive exercise,” said Logico.
Logico declined to say the venue for the training exercise involving the NMESIS.
Asked if the NMESIS will be involved in a live fire training, Logico said, “I will just say that it will take part in one of our exercises. That’s all I can say.”
Col. Doug Krugman of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force could not immediately say if the NMESIS will remain in the Philippines after the conclusion of the Balikatan.
“If there’s another exercise going in the Philippines shortly after Balikatan and that equipment is appropriate and requested for it by the AFP, we would certainly look to participate in that exercise as well. But it (NMESIS) is here for (Balikatan) exercise purposes,” said Krugman.
Logico said the medium-range capability Typhon missile system will also be featured in the Balikatan exercise.
The Typhon arrived in March last year for another military exercise, “Salaknib.” It was subsequently featured in several other exercises, including last year’s Balikatan.
Typhon is capable of launching Tomahawks that can reach China and Russia, drawing criticism from China.
China has repeatedly demanded the return of the Typhon to the US. It has said the missile system “gravely threatens regional countries’ security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region.”
Logico said he is not aware of a second Typhon being brought in by the Americans to the Philippines.
“I have not tracked any movement of any additional Typhon missile,” he said.
Logico said the military exercise verges on “a full battle test, which means we are now treating the exercise as a rehearsal for our defense.”
The drills will emphasize interoperability across domains, including maritime and air defense, and stretch from Palawan to the northern Luzon islands – areas facing the South China Sea and Taiwan.
The locations were not random, said Logico, adding that “the exercises by themselves can also help in resisting influence operations from other nations.”
MISSILE EXERCISE
Logico said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr was given a briefing on the upcoming exercise about two weeks ago.
“He has given us the green light for the entire exercise, all of the events. And yes, he is very interested in watching one of the events,” said Logico.
He said the president will attend the integrated air and missile defense exercise which will be held in Zambales.
“He (Marcos) will be in a secured and classified location that I cannot reveal,” Logico said.
Logico also said among assets of the Armed Forces that will take part in the Balikatan exercise are FA-50 fighter aircraft and frigates which were acquired under the military’s modernization program.
Krugman said US will also bring in F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft, MV 22 Osprey aircraft, the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the man-portable air defense system Stinger, and the Avenger air defense system.
Logico said the Balikatan drills reflect deepening defense ties between the two allies, as tensions simmer in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, where China recently held large-scale military exercises.
The South China Sea remains a source of tension between China and Southeast Asian nations, with ties between Beijing and Manila at their worst in years amid frequent confrontations that have sparked concerns of a military conflict.
Hegseth, during a visit on March 28, reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment under the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty.
He pledged to deploy advanced capabilities for the drills to the Philippines, including the NMESIS, to help deter threats including Chinese “aggression.” – With Reuters
