BALI, May 5 (RIA Novosti) – Over 5,000 American and Filipino servicemen are participating in annual military exercises that began Monday, according to the GMA news website.
“Balikatan-2014 are aimed at further development of Philippines’ army forces potentials in planning their actions in critical situations, advancing their abilities in combating terrorism and improving cooperation with the US armed forces,” Philippines military spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala was quoted as saying.
In the course of the next two weeks, servicemen from the two countries will conduct practice amphibious assaults in Zambales province and joint search and rescue operations as well as salvage services for natural disaster scenarios.
The exercises, called “Balikatan” or “shoulder to shoulder,” began less than two weeks after US President Barack Obama visited the Pacific nation to reassure Manila of Washington’s commitment to a 1951 mutual defense treaty. The leaders of the two countries also signed a 10-year military agreement granting American troops wide access to the Philippines’ military bases.
