US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney talks during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFP(From left) Philippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, US embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Major General Noel Beleran and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney link arms during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPPhilippines Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner talks during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPUS marines Lieutenant General William Jurney, US exercise director, speaks during a press conference at the military headquarters in Manila on April 22, 2024, after the opening ceremony of the Philippine and US annual joint military exercise. PHOTO BY TED ALJIBE / AFP(From left) Philippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, US embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Major General Noel Beleran and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney pose with the exercise flag during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPPhilippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine (left) and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney (R) unfurl the exercise flag during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPUS exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney talks during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPUS embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing talks during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPPhilippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine (left) and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney (right) unfurl the exercise flag during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPUS marines Lieutenant General William Jurney (left), US exercise director, speaks while Philippine exercise director army Major General Marvin Lucudine listens during a press conference at the military headquarters in Manila on April 22, 2024, after the opening ceremony of the Philippine and US annual joint military exercise. PHOTO BY ALJIBE / AFPPhilippine Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo speaks during a press conference at the military headquarters in Manila on April 22, 2024, after the opening ceremony of the Philippine and US annual joint military exercise. PHOTO BY TED ALJIBE / AFPUS marines Lieutenant General William Jurney (left), US exercise director, speaks while Philippine exercise director army Major General Marvin Lucudine listens during a press conference at the military headquarters in Manila on April 22, 2024, after the opening ceremony of the Philippine and US annual joint military exercise. PHOTO BY TED ALJIBE/ AFPArmed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner (right) puts a patch on Philippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine (left) during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFPUS exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney (left) talks during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFP(From left) Philippines exercise director for Balikatan Major General Marvin Licudine, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Major General Noel Beleran and US exercise director for Balikatan Lieutenant General William Jurney link arms during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, on April 22, 2024. PHOTO BY JAM STA ROSA / AFP