Philippines-United States war games may be suspended next year

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the annual joint military exercises of Philippine and American armed forces in the country might be suspended next year, following President Duterte’s recent pronouncement.

Called Balikatan, literally meaning shoulder-to-shoulder, the exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippine-US military relations since the US bases in the Philippines shut down more than two decades ago.

Lorenzana said the agreement on the joint Philippine-US military exercises is subject to change yearly.

“There is a possibility it would be suspended, although the President has not really decided yet,” Lorenzana told reporters in an earlier interview, noting no final agreement has been reached yet on the joint military exercises for 2017, which the parties are supposed to sign in November.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 (PHIBLEX) will end on Wednesday. Soldiers from the Philippine and US Marines attended the exercises, which started Oct. 4.

PHIBLEX is an annual US-Philippine military bilateral exercise that combines amphibious capabilities with humanitarian civic assistance efforts to strengthen interoperability and working relationships.

Earlier, Duterte said he wants an end to the Philippines’ joint military exercises with the US, stressing the upcoming scheduled war games between the two armed forces would be the last under his term.

Duterte made the announcement in a speech before the Filipino community in Vietnam.

“I will serve notice to you now that this will be the last military exercise – jointly, Philippines, the US, the last one,” Duterte said, adding, however, that he will continue to uphold the Philippines’ treaties with the US.