AFP eyes unit to oversee military drills with other nations
Philippine News Agency
By Priam Nepomuceno
May 1, 2025, 3:39 pm
MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be setting up its so-called "Strategic Defense Command" which would supervise military exercises with foreign countries.
In an interview with reporters late Wednesday night, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said this unit is expected to be operational by this year.
"We're looking at creating this within the year. Wala pa tayong (we still do have an) actual timeline (for) this because it will go through the normal process," she added.
Padilla said the creation of the "Strategic Defense Command" was deemed necessary as the AFP's training exercises with foreign countries have been growing larger by the year.
An example of this is the annual "Balikatan" and "Salaknib" exercises with the US military.
At the present time, joint exercises are being conducted under the supervision of the AFP Education, Doctrine and Training Command.
This proposed unit will also be tasked with training in the use of modern equipment that the AFP is acquiring and how best to "interoperate and integrate" with foreign nations conducting military exercises with the Philippines, she added.
Padilla said that the "Strategic Defense Command" will go into a provisional phase until the unit is formally formed and activated. (PNA)
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