PORMAL na pinasimulan ng Filipinas at United States Armed Forces ang dalawang linggong joint military exercise, ang taunang pagsasanay ng dalawang puwersa militar na pansamantalang nakansela dahil sa pandemiya, ayon kay AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana.
Sa ginanap na simpleng 36th Balikatan Exercise (BK36-21) opening ceremony araw ng Lunes sa canopy ng Camp Gen Emilio Aguinaldo ay binigay ni Gen Sobejana ang hudyat sa pagsisimula ng military exercise na sasalihan ng may 1,700 sundalo mula sa dalawang bansa.
“The Balikatan Exercise, since its launching in 1991, has been a treasure trove of learning opportunities for both Filipino and American soldiers and in recent years would also include our other allies here in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Ang nasabing pagbabalik ng Joint RP-US Balikatan exercise ay inihayag matapos na mag- usap sina Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at US Defense Department Secretary Lloyd Austin para talakayin ang ilalatag na war exercise sa gitna ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa South China Sea, at kasalukuyang regional security developments.
Inihayag ni Gen Sobejana na magkakaroon ng mga pagbabago sa nakalatag na pagsasanay dala na rin ng nararanasang coronavirus pandemic sa buong bansa.
Naka pokus ang gaganaping pagsasanay sa ibat ibang missions and scenarios, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter terrorism, at combined military operations.
Nasa 1,700 sundalo ang kalahok ngayong 2021 Balikatan exercises, kung saan 700 dito mula sa US Armed Forces at nasa 1,000 naman mula sa AFP.
”Meron tayong mga virtual portion of the exercise, meron din physical contact pero minimal hindi kasing laki ng mga previous balikatan exercise,” dagdag pa ng heneral.
Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa nasabing kick off ceremony sina Gen Sobejana, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires John Law; Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, ang Commander ng AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command at itinalagang Balikatan Exercise Director; Col. Stephen Ma, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group Chief at U.S. Defense Attaché, at Col. Aaron Brunk ng U.S. III Marine Expeditionary Force, Officer in Charge for Exercise Support Group.
“Against this backdrop and these challenges notwithstanding, the decrease is only in terms of number and never in the participating nations’ passion and desire to meet the steep objectives set forth in every exercise,” ani Major General Arevalo.
Sa pahayag naman ni Col Brunk, ”I am greatly honored to be here today and to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Philippine allies and friends. By training together, our militaries build upon each other and strengthen each other. May this exercise and this experience in the next couple of weeks add value to our partnership and our friendship.”
Una rito ay iginiit ni Sec Austin ang kahalagahan ng Visting Forces Agreement sa gitna ng kanilang pagtalakay sa sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea. VERLIN RUIZ
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