The United States and the Philippines have stood together for 65 years, and America’s commitment to the former U.S. territory is “ironclad,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at closing ceremonies for the 32nd annual bilateral Balikatan exercise.
The secretary emphasized the meaning of the Filipino word Balikatan -- “shoulder-to-shoulder” -- and thanked the armed forces of both nations for their dedication to the exercise and the U.S.-Philippines alliance. Officials said the exercise improves the ability of both nations to work together during planning, contingencies and humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations.
The results of the two-week exercise in the archipelago of more than 7,000 islands bordered by the South China and Philippine seas, were “exemplary,” Carter said.
Together, the two nations’ militaries provided medical care to local communities, improved joint command and control, and rehearsed maritime interdiction operations to expedite responses to threats on the seas, the defense secretary added.
Exercise is ‘Stitch to Fabric of Region’s Security’
The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis continues to sail in the South China Sea as it has for many years, he said, in part because of the exercise.
“With each Balikatan, each cruise by the Stennis, with each new multilateral exercise and each new defense agreement,” Carter said, “we add a stitch to the fabric of the region’s security work.”
“You’ve also set the stage for a new level of cooperation between the Philippines and the United States,” the defense secretary said.
“With the success of Balikatan 2016 and two major recent policy steps forward -- the U.S.’ and Philippines’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and the new U.S. Southeast Asia Maritime Security initiative -- we’re going to be doing more together,” he said.
By participating in the annual Balikatan exercise, the two militaries contributed to the Asia-Pacific region’s continued stability and security and allowed “millions upon millions” of people and their families in the region to be safe, dream their dreams and have full lives, the defense secretary said.
During a time of change in a dynamic region, “We will continue to stand up for our safety and freedom, for those of our friends and allies and for the values, principles and rule-based order that has benefitted so many for so long,” Carter said.
“As long as we remain steadfast in that commitment as we have for decades, we will continue to ensure the Philippines remain secure, and the Asia-Pacific remains a region where everyone can rise and prosper for generations to come,” he said.
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)