US-Philippine Alliance in Focus as Salaknib 2026 Exercises Kick Off

The annual defense exercise involves thousands of soldiers with a goal of strengthening security in the Pacific.

A Philippine soldier deploys a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System as part of joint army-to-army drills between the United States and the Philippines in Laur, Nueva Ecija province, on Aug. 9, 2024. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

The U.S. and Philippine armies have launched Exercise Salaknib 2026 with an opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, the country’s largest military base.

The annual exercise, hosted by the Philippines, seeks to strengthen military ties and support stability in the Indo-Pacific.