US, Philippines kick off largest-ever war games

Patched and ready: A US soldier putting on a patch during the opening ceremony of the war games in Quezon City. — Reuters

THE Philippines and the United States launched the largest-ever joint military drills in the archipelago nation, signalling deepening defence ties.

The war games are the last under outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who previously threatened to cancel exercises and axe a key military deal with longtime ally the United States as he pivoted towards China.