IN A BID to bolster regional security cooperation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has extended an invitation to Japan to participate in the annual Balikatan military exercises alongside the Philippines and the United States.
Col. Michael Logico, serving as the Balikatan executive agent, disclosed that Japan’s armed forces are anticipated to contribute to the conceptualization of next year’s exercise.
While Japan’s role in this year’s Balikatan is limited to observer status, Logico emphasized the AFP’s proactive approach in involving Japan from the outset to ensure deeper engagement in future exercises.
Balikatan 2024 sees Japan joining 14 observer countries, including Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing, Logico revealed Japan’s early interest in participating in this year’s exercise, although logistical constraints confined their involvement to that of spectators.
Spanning from April 22 to May 10, Balikatan 2024 marks the largest iteration of the joint military exercise to date, with participation from various government agencies and armed forces from numerous nations.
Earlier this month, defense forces from the Philippines, Japan, US, and Australia collaborated in the inaugural Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, underscoring their commitment to enhancing regional and international cooperation.
