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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)