Philippine military drill draws more allies amid concerns over potential regional conflict

Around 2,351 troops are taking part in the drills named Kamandag – an acronym in Filipino for “cooperation of the warriors of the sea” – which began on Tuesday and will run until October 25.

“Kamandag serves as a testament to the enduring and ironclad alliance our nation shares [with its allies]. We will enhance our interoperability, strengthen our collective defence and build personal friendships,” Colonel Stuart W. Glenn, the US commanding officer of the Marine Rotational Force Southeast Asia, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Through our efforts, we reaffirm our mutual commitment to regional security as we face the ever-evolving security environment that threatens a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Glenn added.