The Philippines and the United States commenced their annual Balikatan military exercises on April 20, 2026, drawing sharp criticism from local protesters amid a national energy emergency. Over 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand are participating in the drills, which will conclude on May 8.
Protests erupted outside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Manila, with demonstrators holding signs such as "Stop Balikatan" and "US Imperialist No.1 Terrorist." Gabriel Magtibay, national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, warned that "blindly obeying the United States is pushing us into the risk of war," urging the government to prioritize domestic economic stability over foreign military alliances.
The backlash coincides with the Philippines’ ongoing energy crisis, declared in late March 2026 due to soaring fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions. Critics argue that hosting foreign military assets diverts resources from urgent public needs, including energy affordability and infrastructure development.
Balikatan, meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Filipino, has been a recurring bilateral exercise since 1991. This year’s iteration includes simulated maritime defense operations, raising concerns about escalating regional security tensions.
