7K plus troops to participate in 'Balikatan' 2019

MANILA -- Around 7,550 Filipino, American and Australian troops will be participating in this year's "Balikatan" exercises which will formally start April 1 and end on the 12th.

This was disclosed by Philippine "Balikatan" public affairs officer, Lt. Cmdr. Liezl M. Vidallon, in an interview with reporters Sunday.

Vidallon said this can be broken down into 4,000 personnel for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 3,500 on the United States side and 50 from the Australian Defense Force.

He added that the Australian participation is possible as exercises are multilateral for this year.

Exercise venues will be in Northern and Southern Luzon.

Objectives for "Balikatan" 2019 are to enhance the inter-operability of participating forces aside from highlighting long-standing military relations between the Philippines and the US. (PNA)

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http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066109
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