US-Philippine Alliance in Focus as Salaknib 2026 Exercises Kick Off

The U.S. and Philippine armies have launched Exercise Salaknib 2026 with an opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, the country’s largest military base.

The annual exercise, hosted by the Philippines, seeks to strengthen military ties and support stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Thousands of soldiers from both countries will train together in the coming weeks. Activities include jungle warfare, aviation support, live-fire drills and archipelagic defense—protecting a country made up of thousands of islands.

The drills aim to improve combat readiness and the two armies’ ability to operate as one team.

According to the U.S. Army, this year’s exercise highlights the strategic importance of the longstanding U.S.-Philippine alliance in keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open.

Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, commanding general of the U.S. 25th Infantry Division, addressed the ceremony.

“Salaknib builds credible combat land forces alongside our oldest treaty ally in the region,” he said. “This realistic training sharpens our collective skills and ensures we are prepared to uphold our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Maj. Gen. Efren Morados, vice commander of the Philippine Army, highlighted the human aspect of the training.

“Beyond tactics and systems, this exercise is about people,” he said. “It is about the bonds formed between soldiers who train together under demanding conditions. It is about mutual respect and shared responsibility. These are the foundations of any successful alliance.”

Morados thanked international participants for their role in promoting peace and security.

Experts and observers from the Australian Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and New Zealand Defense Force are also participating. Their involvement aims to build ties among nations that share similar security goals.

During the ceremony, leaders saluted national flags, unveiled the exercise flag, and exchanged patches—a symbol of partnership. Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Lennon Babilonia served as the Philippine exercise director.

Salaknib is an annual bilateral exercise led by the Philippine Army and supported by the U.S. Army Pacific. It began in 2016 and focuses on land-force cooperation.

The United States and the Philippines signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951. Under the treaty, an armed attack on either country in the Pacific would threaten both, and they agree to act together against common dangers.

Cooperation has continued since U.S. bases closed in the early 1990s through agreements that allow rotational U.S. training and equipment presence in the Philippines.

Exercise Salaknib forms part of this ongoing defense relationship and often serves as preparation for the larger annual Balikatan drills.