By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The Philippines will fully cooperate with Australia to ensure that the Indo-Pacific Region remains secure, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Thursday.
Teodoro made the statement after Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles announced their National Defense Strategy (NDS) 2026, which calls for the establishment of a defense force “completely focused on the challenges of the Indo-Pacific.”
“And the Albanese Government remains utterly committed to this,” Marles said.
Marles also said that NDS 2026 has an Integrated Investment Program, which contains an increase in defense spending over the next decade.
“The DND welcomes the announcement of the Australian NDS 2026 by the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. We will fully engage our Australian counterparts in contributing to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific under an overarching framework of global rules and norms and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), in particular,” Teodoro said.
He also said the Philippines will join Australia in this initiative and other like-minded partners in guaranteeing regional stability through collective deterrence.
Australia is among the seven nations that will deploy military personnel for this iteration of the “Balikatan,” which will run from April 20 to May 8.
More than 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand will take part in this series of military drills.
Teodoro noted that the Philippines and Australia’s 80-year partnership will be further strengthened by this strategy.
“I look forward to discussing specific areas of cooperation under the NDS 2026 with Deputy Prime Minister Marles in the coming days,” he said.
‘Salaknib’ troopers fire ‘HIMARS’
As this developed, the Philippine Army (PA) Artillery Regiment and the US Army Pacific (USARPAC) 25th Infantry Division on Thursday fired an M142 “High Mobility Artillery Rocket System” (HIMARS) during the live-fire phase of the “Salaknib” drills.
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala, in a statement, said the activity took place in Canantong, Laur, Nueva Ecija.
Dema-ala said HIMARS is classified as a long-range and multiple-launch rocket system mounted on a five-ton truck.
There are six reduced range practice rockets (RRPR) that are capable of launching missiles in rapid fire. Its guided rockets can reach targets with a 15-kilometer range.
“The use of RRPRs underscores the PA’s commitment to responsible range management and local safety. As the PA shifts to a territorial defense posture, the support from the USARPAC 25th Infantry Division partners provides Philippine troops with crucial capabilities on long-range precision fires,” Dema-ala said.
The exercise is a significant component of “Salaknib”, designed to enhance the interoperability and readiness of the PA.
This year’s Salaknib Phase 1 drills run from April 6 to 17 and will be followed by the “Balikatan” exercises, then Salaknib Phase 2 from May to June.
Around 7,000 Filipino, American, Australian, and Japanese troops are taking part in Salaknib Phase 1.
Dema-ala said the multilateral exercises will focus on maritime and territorial defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, along with amphibious and combined arms operations.
The PA’s elevation of its exercises signals its readiness and firm resolve to respond to multiple threats, he added.
“Salaknib” which means shield in Ilocano, reflects the historical bond between the Philippines and Americans that dates back to World War II when Filipino and American troops fought side-by-side.
Missile exercises
Meanwhile, this year’s iteration of the “Balikatan” between the Philippines and the United States, and other participating nations will be more “dynamic,” the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday afternoon.
“Well, it’s always evolving, it’s very dynamic this year – ang term nga natin dito is (our term here is) expanded multilateral engagement. And it extends from kinetic to non-kinetic – so, we have over land, air and sea and cyber,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a television interview.
Padilla said the “Balikatan” will also feature missile defense exercises and live-fire drills, aside from joint training with other participating nations.
The AFP spokesperson was referring to the “Integrated Air and Missile Defense” that will take place at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zambales from April 26 to 29, the “Counter Landing Live Fire Ex-West” scheduled April 27 in Aporawan, Palawan, the “Counter Landing Live Fire Ex-North” on May 4 at the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, and the “JTF Maritime Strike” on May 6 in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
“(Balikatan) basically shows strong alliance between the Philippines and it shows that more and more nations have been really showing that we are all working towards a common goal that is to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she added.
Despite the fast-paced drills, Padilla also assured the public that safety is still paramount.
“Way before we conduct these exercises, talagang very heavy na iyong (we had a heavy) coordination with the local government units. So with that, we make sure that the proper (security) protocols are in place,” she added. (PNA)
