From Balikatan to Taiwan: Why Firepower Beats Perfection
A Sabrah Light Tank fires a round during a counter landing live fire exercise at a beach as part of U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises in Aparri, Cagayan province, Philippines, on May 3, 2025. More than 14,000 Filipino and U.S. troops are taking part in this year's Balikatan, or "shoulder-to-shoulder," exercises, billed as the "Super Bowl" of military drills in the region. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Balikatan 2025—the largest Indo-Pacific exercise in years—sent a clear message: The United States is preparing for a major regional fight. With anti-ship missile strikes, island defense scenarios, and Japanese ground forces participating, it was the most complex iteration yet.
Abigail Denburg
Author
Abby Denburg is the Vice President of Global Growth and Strategy at Insitu. She received her B.S. in Diplomatic History and Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and her M.S. in International Studies from Georgetown University.
