MASASAKSIHAN ngayon ang pinakamalaking war exercise sa Pilipinas na sasalihan ng may 8,900 tauhan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at U.S. military bukod pa sa mga makabagong fighter planes at land base military hardwares para sa nakatakdang RP-US Balikatan 2022.
Sa inilabas na pahayag kahapon ng U.S Embassy sa Maynila nasa 5,100 US military personnel habang nasa 3,800 miyembro ng AFP ang sasabak sa largest-ever iteration ng Philippine-led annual exercise.
Nakapokus ang gaganaping war games sa maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, at humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“Balikatan is a critical opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Philippine allies toward a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific that is more connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient,’ as our Indo-Pacific Strategy calls for. The U.S. is proud to continue our participation in this long-standing exercise,” pahayag ni U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava.
Nakapaloob din sa inilatag na mga pagsasanay ang command post exercise na susuri sa kakayahan ng AFP at U.S. forces sa pagpaplano, magpatupad at makipag talastasan sa bawat isa base sa simulated environment na sinasabing higit na napapalawak nito ang collective security and defensive capabilities ng alyansa.
“Exercise Balikatan is a testament to the strength of the Philippines and United States’ security relationship,” pahayag naman ni Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, AFP Exercise Director for Balikatan 22.
Bukod sa war exercise ay magsasagawa rin ng ibat ibang humanitarian and civic assistance projects ang mga sundalong Pinoy at Kano kabilang na rito ang repair and renovation ng apat na elementary schools, medical and dental mission at advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques.
Nilinaw ng US at ng Pilipinas na kabilang sa kanilang top priority ang COVID-19 mitigation kung saan tiniyak ng embahada na tutugong ang U.S. forces sa lahat ng Philippine government COVID-19 travel regulations at panatilihin ang social distancing at pagsusuot ng face masks hangga’t maaari sa panahon ng pagsasanay. VERLIN RUIZ