BALIKATAN

Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States. The Tagalog word balikatan means "shoulder-to-shoulder". The exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippines–United States military relations since the closure of all 5 U.S. bases in the Philippines, and 13 Philippine military bases being made accessible to U.S. forces as a result of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.