MANILA, Philippines

From left to right, Philippine Army Maj. Gen Franscisco F. Lorenzo Jr, Philippine exercise director, Gen. Romero S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of the U.S. joint task force, unfurl the Exercise Balikatan 2026 flag during the opening ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 20, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the AFP and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sar Paw) Share

MANILA, Philippines

From left to right, Philippine Army Maj. Gen Franscisco F. Lorenzo Jr, Philippine exercise director, Gen. Romero S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of the U.S. joint task force, unfurl the Exercise Balikatan 2026 flag during the opening ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 20, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the AFP and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sar Paw) Share

MANILA, Philippines

From left to right, Philippine Army Maj. Gen Franscisco F. Lorenzo Jr, Philippine exercise director, Gen. Romero S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of the U.S. joint task force, unfurl the Exercise Balikatan 2026 flag during the opening ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 20, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the AFP and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sar Paw) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

U.S. Sailors, assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), guide a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean, April 17, 2026. The 11th MEU, embarked aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is a persistent, combat credible force contributing to deterrence and crisis response in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Stuart) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, April 17, 2026. The 11th MEU, embarked aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is a persistent, combat credible force contributing to deterrence and crisis response in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Helms) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 16, 2026) –An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), April 16, 2026. VFA 25, part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operation conducting advanced training to bolster strike group readiness and capability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Barnett) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 16, 2026) –An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), April 16, 2026. VFA 25, part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operation conducting advanced training to bolster strike group readiness and capability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Barnett) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) maneuvers into formation with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) after taking on fuel from Canadian supply ship MV Asterix during a multilateral exercise with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026. Ashland and embarked Sailors and Marines from Task Force Ashland are a flexible crisis response force, purpose-built to integrate with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This forward deployment demonstrates the unwavering U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) MH-60R Sea Hawk from Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) departs Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) for a crew exchange during a multilateral exercise with RAN and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026. Ashland and embarked Sailors and Marines from Task Force Ashland are a flexible crisis response force, purpose-built to integrate with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This forward deployment demonstrates the unwavering U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Leading Seaman Dominic Turkalj, assigned to RAN Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156), prepares U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Nicholas Traylor, assigned to Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), to embark Toowoomba’s MH-60R Sea Hawk for a crew exchange during a multilateral exercise with RAN and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026. Ashland and embarked Sailors and Marines from Task Force Ashland are a flexible crisis response force, purpose-built to integrate with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This forward deployment demonstrates the unwavering U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Leading Seaman Dominic Turkalj and Leading Seaman Brayden Kennedy, both assigned to RAN Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156), disembarks RAN MH-60R Sea Hawk on the flight deck of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) for a crew exchange during a multilateral exercise with RAN and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026. Ashland and embarked Sailors and Marines from Task Force Ashland are a flexible crisis response force, purpose-built to integrate with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This forward deployment demonstrates the unwavering U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

A Royal Canadian Air Force Super Puma assigned to Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) prepares to land on the flight deck of U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a multilateral exercise with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 18, 2026. Ashland and embarked Sailors and Marines from Task Force Ashland are a flexible crisis response force, purpose-built to integrate with allies and partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This forward deployment demonstrates the unwavering U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin) Share