Japan to join PH-US Balikatan 2026

Japanese combat troops are set to participate for the first time in the Balikatan Exercise between the Philippines and the United States, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.

“For the very first time after a very, very long time, combat troops from Japanese Self-Defense Forces will be coming here to the Philippines to join us in the Balikatan Exercise,” Brawner said in an ambush interview at a Stratbase forum.

This year's Balikatan Exercise is set to open on April 20.

Brawner said the drills will run from April to May and are expected to be the “biggest” iteration yet in terms of scope and intensity, despite ongoing global tensions such as the conflict in the Middle East.

“We received the confirmation from [US Indo-Pacific Command head Admiral Samuel Paparo] himself. He said that this will still be the biggest Balikatan Exercise despite the war going on in Middle East,” Brawner said.

“Sabi niya hindi tayo maaapektuhan. Tuloy pa rin lahat ng ating mga pinlano na mga activities and yung scale and scope ay pareho pa rin,” he added.

(He said we will not be affected. All our planned activities will continue and the scale and scope will remain the same.)

In a "24 Oras" report on Tuesday, Brawner also said this joint military exercise will show unity among the three countries.

"Kung 81 years ago in 1945, we found ourselves on opposite sides of the war, this time, we find ourselves on the same side, on the same side of that effort to promote a rules-based international order. Kasi ang ibang mga bansa, ang pinopromote lang nila ay sarili lang nilang interes, and they do this through coercion," Brawner said.

(81 years ago, in 1945, we found ourselves on opposite sides of the war, but this time, we find ourselves on the same side of the effort to promote a rules-based international order. Because some countries, however, only promote their own interests, and they do so through coercion.)

This year’s exercises will feature expanded participation from allied nations, including Japan, which will deploy troops under the recently ratified Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).

In addition to Japan, forces from the United States and Australia will also take part in the drills.

Balikatan 2026 will cover a wide range of training activities, including field training exercises, command post exercises, and cyber defense operations. 

He added that there will be a stronger focus on cybersecurity. The AFP is also looking to integrate space technology into this year’s exercises.

More Philippine agencies will participate in the drills including the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police. —VAL/RF, GMA Integrated News