Soldiers from the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army began three weeks of joint military drills on Monday, focused on territorial defense and large-scale force deployments, the Philippine Army announced.
The exercises, part of this year’s Exercise Salaknib, involve around 5,000 soldiers from both nations. The first phase of the drills will concentrate on warfighting and the exchange of military expertise, with a second phase set for later in the year.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to travel to Manila this week to meet with Philippine officials and military leaders, the Pentagon confirmed.
The joint exercises will enhance combined operations, live-fire exercises, large-scale maneuvers, and territorial defense, according to the Philippine Army. The Salaknib exercises, which began in 2016, are part of the broader Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) training series between the two treaty allies.
Security ties between the U.S. and the Philippines have strengthened under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pivoted closer to the United States. Marcos has prioritized defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the South China Sea, where tensions with China have been escalating over Beijing's actions in the disputed region.
Hegseth’s visit is the first by a U.S. Cabinet official since President Donald Trump took office in January. The Philippines also secured an exemption from the 90-day funding freeze imposed by Trump earlier this year, allowing it to receive $336 million for the modernization of its security forces.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Azerbaijan and the United States have launched a new economic dialogue aimed at deepening trade, investment and business cooperation, as officials from both countries met in Baku on 2 June during Energy Week.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
Protesters chanted “I can’t breathe” and threw bins at police in Southampton on Tuesday (2 June) after footage emerged showing murdered teenager Henry Nowak being arrested as he lay dying from a stab wound.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
A blaze at a popular market in northeast Thailand sent vendors fleeing and left five people in hospital, with police investigating a suspected electrical short circuit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for direct talks aimed at ending the war between their countries, saying Ukraine remains ready for peace but will continue fighting if no agreement can be reached.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would provide new aid to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions on Russia, marking the latest instance of Republican lawmakers breaking ranks with President Donald Trump and party leaders.
Bosnia’s international peace oversight body failed on Thursday to reach agreement on a successor to Germany’s Christian Schmidt, who unexpectedly stepped down last month, claiming he had come under pressure from the United States.
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