Balikatan canceled amid Covid pandemic

THIS year’s joint Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises between the United States and the Philippines have been canceled because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The US Indo-Pacific Command has announced that the exercises’ cancelation were in accordance with the travel restrictions imposed by the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Philippine government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries’ forces, it is prudent to cancel Balikatan 2020,” Adm. Phil Davidson, US Indo-Pacific commander, said in the statement issued by his command.

“We remain deeply committed to our long-standing alliance and friendship,” he added.

The exercises were scheduled May 4 to 15.

“The DoD’s priorities remain 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 allies and partners in this fight,” the US Indo Pacific Command said.

Rear Adm. Adelius Bordado, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Education, Training and Doctrine Command and the co-director of the Balikatan drills 2020, also confirmed the cancellation of the annual exercises.

“We are in an extraordinary situation. Since Monday, the [AFP] chief of staff was considering that since Monday and we already advised our J8 (AFP deputy chief of staff for training and education) to cancel [the exercises,” he told reporters.

He insisted that it was the Philippines who first suggested the cancelation by submitting a formal written request to American counterparts.