Nearly 9,000 US, Philippine troops to take part in training exercises in South-East Asian country from Monday (March 28)

MANILA, March 25 (dpa): Nearly 9,000 American and Filipino soldiers will take part in military training exercises in the Philippines from Monday (March 28), the largest to be conducted under President Rodrigo Duterte, the armed forces had announced this week.

This year’s Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises will take place starting on Monday and last through April 8. It will be attended by 5,100 American soldiers and 3,800 Filipino soldiers, according to a joint statement by the Philippines-US Balikatan information bureau.