Hagel: PH-US war games ‘important to regional security’

MANILA, Philippines – US defense chief Chuck Hagel said the ongoing war games between the Philippines and the US are important to regional security. 

“Hagel welcomed the opportunity for US forces to train with the Philippine armed forces in the Balikatan exercise…. He noted the exercise’s importance to regional security,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby in a post on the US defense department web site.

Hagel called Philippines Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Sunday, May 4 – May 5 in the Philippines – to “congratulate” and “thank” the Philippine official on the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), according to the same post. (READ: 3 to 5 military bases eyed for US use and  How far will the US go to defend the Philippines)

They also discussed the Balikatan 2014 war games launched on Monday, May 5. The war games are focused on maritime security and will be held in bases near disputed waters. It will run until May 16.

“Remember, while this may be an exercise, the skills you practice here have real world implications for the safety and security not just of the Philippines but of the entire region,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said in his speech during the opening ceremony. 

The Balikatan war games is a regular activity between the two treaty allies. EDCA allows two new activities beyond Balikatan – the prepositioning of defense equipment and the construction and upgrade of facilities inside Philippine military bases. 

Kirby said Hagel and Gazmin also recalled their discussions during the US-ASEAN Defense Forum in Hawaii last month. – Rappler.com