EXERCISE BALIKATAN
Exercise Balikatan
Exercise Balikatan is the largest annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the United States, and this year will include Australia, Japan, France, Canada, and New Zealand. The Tagalog phrase “Balikatan” means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” which captures the spirit of the exercise and the close friendship between the United States and the Philippines. Taking place April 20 to May 8, 2026, across the Philippine archipelago, Balikatan 2026 (BK26) marks the 41st
Exercise Balikatan is the largest annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the United States, and this year will include Australia, Japan, France, Canada, and New Zealand. The Tagalog phrase “Balikatan” means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” which captures the spirit of the exercise and the close friendship between the United States and the Philippines. Taking place April 20 to May 8, 2026, across the Philippine archipelago, Balikatan 2026 (BK26) marks the 41st iteration of the exercise that covers a range of scenarios – from conventional warfare to foreign disaster response – ensuring all participants remain prepared for a range of contingencies. The execution of BK26 enhances planning, command and control systems, logistics, and communication through realistic simulations and war-gaming. The exercise directly supports ongoing efforts to operationalize the 1951 U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) by ensuring tactical proficiency, interoperability, capability development, and improved military-to-military coordination between our forces. The exercise also demonstrates our long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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