Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete welcomed US Army Pacific Commanding General Gen. Ronald Clark at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, highlighting the continued strengthening of defense cooperation between the two allied forces.
During the visit, both military leaders discussed ongoing efforts to deepen Army-to-Army collaboration aimed at supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, as regional security challenges continue to evolve.
The engagement comes ahead of the second phase of Exercise Salaknib, scheduled from May to June 2026, where Filipino and American ground forces will conduct joint training activities focused on interoperability and readiness.
Troops from both countries are also currently participating in broader multilateral exercises under the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan, alongside other partner nations with shared security interests.
The Philippine Army said the series of joint exercises supports its ongoing transition toward External Security Operations, as it continues to develop new skills and capabilities through sustained large-scale training engagements with allied and partner forces.
Officials noted that these activities reinforce long-standing defense ties between the Philippines and the United States while enhancing coordination in addressing regional security concerns.