The United States on Friday said it is canceling military exercises with the Philippines scheduled on May 4 to 15 amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
A statement of the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii sent by the US Embassy in Manila said the war games in the Philippines will no longer push thru “due to concerns for the health and safety of the participating exercise forces and local populations near the planned exercise areas.”
The cancellation of the exercises, called ‘Balikatan’, “is in accordance with international travel restrictions implemented by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as well as the Republic of the Philippines in response to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19,” the statement said.
“In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries’ forces, it is prudent to cancel Balikatan 2020,” said Adm. Phil Davidson, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“We remain deeply committed to our long-standing alliance and friendship.”
Davidson said the US Defense Department prioritizes “the protection of service members, their families, and the department’s civilian work force; safeguarding and maintaining our ability to defend the nation and its interests; and supporting our ability to defend the nation and its interests; and supporting our allies and partners in this fight.”
Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) is the largest annual joint exercise between the Philippines and US armed forces and involves participation from Australia.
The series of annual joint military training is being held under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
In February, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the abrogation of the VFA, which allows American soldiers to regularly train with their Filipino counterparts in the country, after the US revoked the visa of his close aide and former police chief now senator, Ronald Dela Rosa.
US officials did not cite a specific reason why Dela Rosa’s visa was cancelled, but many speculated it was due to his involvement in Duterte’s violent war on drugs.
In Feb. 11, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. signed and transmitted to the US Embassy the notice of termination of the Philippines’ VFA with Washington.
Under the accord, the VFA “shall remain in force until the expiration of 180 days from the date on which either party gives the other party notice in writing that it desires to terminate the agreement.”
