4 countries participate in largest 'Salaknib'Military officials attend the ceremonial joint exercises patch-wearing at the opening of COPE Thunder Exercises 2026-1 in Mabalacat, Pampanga yesterday. Gen. Angelito Retuta, Maj. Gen. Dennis Estrella and US Air Force Brig. MANILA, Philippines — More than 7,000 troops from the Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia commenced yesterday the largest Salaknib exercise at Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. This year’s Salaknib Phase 1 is set from April 6 to 17, with the Exercise Balikatan and Salaknib Phase 2 scheduled until June. In his keynote remarks, Philippine Army vice commander Maj. Gen. Efren Morados said Salaknib is “guided by a clear and strategic purpose to strengthen combined arms operations, deepen multi-domain interoperability, and reinforce a credible and resilient regional security architecture.”

Source: Philippine Star April 06, 2026 16:42 UTC