The U.S. launched its largest joint defense exercises with the Philippines, “Balikatan,” underscoring its sustained Indo-Pacific military presence amid the Iran conflict. More than 17,000 troops from the U.S., Philippines, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France are participating in maritime and live-fire drills. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines. Japan will observe a ship-sinking drill next month, as regional t

The U.S. launched its largest joint defense exercises with the Philippines, “Balikatan,” underscoring its sustained Indo-Pacific military presence amid the Iran conflict. More than 17,000 troops from the U.S., Philippines, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France are participating in maritime and live-fire drills. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines. Japan will observe a ship-sinking drill next month, as regional tensions rise alongside China’s naval activity in the western Pacific.