The annual “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises between the Philippines and United States, which could possibly be the last iteration after the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, has been cancelled because of the novel coronavirus disease-2019.
Nearly 11,000 Filipino and American soldiers, along with 50 participants from Australia, are supposed to gather in the Philippines in May to train but the United States Indo-Pacific Command announced that the drills will no longer push through.
“In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries’ forces, it is prudent to cancel Balikatan 2020,” Admiral Phil Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific, said.
Rear Admiral Adelius Bordado, co-director of Balikatan 2020 and chief of the Education, Training, and Doctrine Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has confirmed the postponement.
“Yes, it was canceled already. We are in an extraordinary situation,” Bordado said.
He said that he had earlier advised Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., AFP chief of staff, to stop the drills as early as March 22 to ensure the safety of the participating troops.
“He (Santos) was already considering it. It just so happened that they (US) sent the formal written (advise) first,” Bordado stated. (Martin Sadongdong)
