US and Philippine troops train together in Salaknib 2025 to boost defense ties

American and Filipino soldiers have kicked off Salaknib 2025, a joint military exercise aimed at improving teamwork and military readiness. The training is taking place at Fort Magsaysay in Philippines and involves activities like artillery maintenance and large-scale battle drills across land, sea, air, cyberspace, and even space.

The US Army shared on social media that the exercise shows how the two countries are working closely to stay prepared and keep their nations safe.

Before the official opening, troops had already started humanitarian and logistics work. This week, the full-scale training begins, where both forces will test their abilities in realistic combat scenarios.

Philippine Army General Romeo Brawner Jr said the exercise is more important than ever, as it helps both nations prepare for new and growing threats. He added that Salaknib has become more advanced over time, showing how strong and active the US-Philippine partnership is.

Salaknib runs alongside Exercise Balikatan, another long-running military drill that supports the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty. These combined efforts help both countries stay ready, improve military skills, and build stronger cooperation between their armed forces.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson called the training a symbol of the strong bond between the two nations. She said it’s not just about military power, but also about friendship, shared values, and a commitment to peace in the region.

The word Balikatan means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog (national language of the Philippines), and that’s exactly how US and Philippine troops are working during these exercises.

More than 14,000 troops from over 20 countries are taking part this year. US Marine Corps Lt Gen James Glynn said the exercises are a powerful message of unity and readiness to protect peace across the Indo-Pacific.

These joint drills show how the US and the Philippines are standing strong together in a changing world.