US - Australian military aircraft arrive in the Philippines, with some 12,000 troops ready to deploy

US and Australian military aircraft arrive in the Philippines, with some 12,000 troops ready to deploy. Military aircraft from the United States and Australia have arrived in the Philippines days before the start of the Balikatan exercise. This year’s Balikatan, with a focus on maritime defense, coastal defense, and maritime domain awareness, will be held in the country, including Palawan, Antique, and parts of Northern Luzon. Around 17,600 troops are expected to participate in this year’s Balikatan — the largest annual Philippine-led bilateral exercise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the US Armed Forces. *** Please note that the presence of Department of Defense (DoD) visual information on our channels does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. We are an independent source committed to delivering accurate, unbiased and informative content.