PH, US armies close Salaknib Exercise 2025

The Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) on Monday concluded this year’s Salaknib exercise in a ceremony at Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

In a statement, the Philippine Army said its chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido served as the guest of honor and speaker for the event. 

“This milestone is a reflection of our nation’s growing synergy and improving partnership for months of intensive training and cooperation,” Galido said. 

According to Galido, Salaknib is a strategic platform for building resilience, enhancing interoperability, and fostering deeper institutional partnerships that will serve as a force multiplier in addressing both conventional and non-conventional security threats.  

“This is about strengthening trusts, capability and ensuring that we stand brave in our shared resolve,” he said. 

Salaknib commenced last March 24. 

The Phases I and II of the exercise featured activities on humanitarian civil assistance, information operations, counterintelligence and protection, foundational warfighting tactics, maritime key terrain security, and counter-landing operations.

The Salaknib exercise is an Army-to-Army theater security cooperation exercise between the Philippine Army and USARPAC. 

According to the Philippine Army, the exercise aims to enhance Philippines and US defense readiness through development of tactical interoperability while simultaneously strengthening bilateral relationships. —Joviland Rita/RF, GMA Integrated News