Balikatan 2025: PH strengthens global ties for peace and preparedness

General Romeo Brawner Jr. PA, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines

Balikatan 2025 has officially concluded, proving to be not only one of the largest joint military exercises we’ve ever conducted, but also one of the most meaningful and purpose-driven in modern times.

This year, more than 20 countries and over 14,000 troops came together not to display force, but to unite in a collective commitment to peace, preparedness, and partnership.

What began decades ago as a bilateral training between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command has since evolved into a dynamic multinational platform for defense cooperation. Today, it strengthens not only our operational readiness but also deepens our ties with like-minded nations who share our vision for a stable, secure, and peaceful region.

Now on its 40th iteration, Balikatan welcomed the full participation of Australia, Canada, France, and Japan. It also drew 16 observing countries, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, among others. Recently, we have likewise signed agreements with New Zealand, whose forces are set to join future exercises.

This expanding participation sends a powerful message that the Philippines is not alone. Our efforts to promote peace and security are supported and shared by a growing community of allies.

In the past three weeks, we conducted integrated land, sea, and air operations including humanitarian assistance, disaster response, cyber defense, and joint command post simulations. These activities are designed not for warfighting but for peacekeeping. Not to provoke, but to prepare.

To be clear, Balikatan is not aimed against any nation. It is not about provocation, confrontation, or intimidation. Rather, it is about ensuring that when disaster strikes, whether natural or man-made, our armed forces can respond together swiftly, effectively, and with a sense of purpose.

Through Balikatan, we are building a framework where our systems, doctrines, and communications can work in harmony. That’s the essence of interoperability: to be able to understand each other, operate seamlessly across forces, and respond as one in times of crisis. That is precisely what makes Balikatan such a crucial platform not only for training, but for strengthening coordination, trust, and mutual capability in real-world scenarios.

We also used this opportunity to showcase the capability and professionalism of the AFP. Our soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most advanced and disciplined militaries in the world—and they did so with pride, skill, and unwavering resolve. As your Chief of Staff, I could not be prouder of how our men and women in uniform rose to the occasion.

This year, we also introduced new technologies such as the U.S. Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which allows for high-precision coastal defense, and advanced drone countermeasures. These innovations remind us of the evolving nature of threats and the need for modern and forward-thinking defense strategies.

To reiterate, these advancements are not instruments of aggression. They are tools for defense meant to protect our families, our shores, and communities.

Beyond all the systems and training modules, Balikatan 2025 is, at its core, about building confidence and coordination. These are the foundations of peace.

When militaries from different parts of the world can train and work together, understand each other, and stand in solidarity, it creates a powerful deterrent not through fear, but through cooperation.

This is the heart of Balikatan, and it reflects our call for unification, the first pillar in our UNITY mantra at the AFP.

Together with our partners, grounded in our mutual values, and strengthened by the unwavering support of the Filipino people, we are working to secure peace not just for today, but for generations to come. We are not preparing for conflict but for the challenges of tomorrow, with our friends by our side.

That is the success of Balikatan 2025 and that is The General Idea.