The Philippines is set to participate in the biannual exercise known as Talisman Sabre for the first time in history. Acting Ambassador of Australia to Manila Moya Collett announced the news at a maritime security forum organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the French Embassy.
Talisman Sabre occurs every two years and primarily involves the U.S. and Australia. It’s the largest military exercise in the southern hemisphere.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will participate for the first time in the Talisman Sabre exercise, the largest military exercise in the southern hemisphere, acting Ambassador of Australia to Manila Moya Collett said.
— The Manila Times (@TheManilaTimes) January 26, 2025
READ: https://t.co/92WBRhvEO7 pic.twitter.com/AUfAea2Om8
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According to the Australian Defense Force (ADF), this year’s exercise will be the largest ever. A total of 19 nations were invited to participate.
As tensions rise between China and other nations operating in the Pacific, the ADF said this exercise presents an opportunity to collaborate with partners from around the world.
The Philippines’ participation is significant, as the exercise involves thousands of troops operating warships, fighters, bombers and helicopters. The agencies will conduct live-fire drills during amphibious landings, ground maneuvers and sea and air operations.
Looking 🔙 on 2023: We trained with many of our partners. 🤝
— Royal Australian Air Force (@AusAirForce) December 19, 2023
➡️ Ex Talisman Sabre 🇺🇸🇫🇯🇫🇷🇮🇩🇯🇵🇰🇷🇳🇿🇵🇬🇹🇴🇬🇧🇨🇦🇩🇪
➡️ Ex Thai Boomerang 🇹🇭
➡️ Ex Mobility Guardian 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇫🇷🇯🇵🇳🇿🇬🇧
➡️ Ex Bersama Lima 🇦🇺🇲🇾🇸🇬🇬🇧
➡️ Ex Malabar 🇮🇳🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zyPhUg3N0O
Collett emphasized that maritime security and territorial defense are now key focuses of Australia’s defense cooperation with the Philippines, adapting to the needs of the island nation’s armed forces.
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Slated to kick off around mid-July, the 2025 edition of Talisman Sabre will take place at various ADF training sites in Queensland and in the waters and airspace around the Coral Sea.
[Ryan Robertson]
ASK ANYONE THAT’S EVER ENDURED A MIDWEST WINTER, AND THEY’LL TELL YOU IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START MAKING PLANS FOR SUMMER. APPARENTLY, THAT HOLDS FOR ISLAND NATIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AS WELL.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE PHILIPPINES IS SET TO TAKE PART IN TALISMAN SABRE.
THAT NEWS COMING FROM THE ACTING AMBASSADOR OF AUSTRALIA TO MANILA, MOYA COLLET, AT A MARITIME SECURITY FORUM ORGANIZED BY THE STRATBASE INSTITUTE ALONG WITH THE FRENCH EMBASSY.
FOR THE UNINITIATED, TALISMAN SABRE HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS AND MAINLY INVOLVES AUSTRALIA AND THE U.S.. IT’S ALSO THE BIGGEST MILITARY EXERCISE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE FORCE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE A-D-F, THIS YEAR’S WILL BE THE LARGEST EVER HELD WITH 19 NATIONS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
AS TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND ANYONE OPERATING IN THE PACIFIC CONTINUE TO RISE, THE ADF SAYS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND AROUND THE WORLD.
IF IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG DEAL FOR THE PHILIPPINES, THAT’S BECAUSE IT IS, WITH THOUSANDS OF TROOPS OPERATING WARSHIPS, FIGHTERS, BOMBERS, AND HELICOPTERS, CONDUCTING LIVE-FIRE DRILLS DURING AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS AND GROUND MANEUVERS, ALONG WITH SEA AND AIR OPERATIONS.
COLLETT ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT MARITIME SECURITY AND TERRITORIAL DEFENSE ARE NOW KEY FOCUSES OF AUSTRALIA’S DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH THE PHILIPPINES AND ADAPTING TO WHAT THE ARMED FORCES OF THE ISLAND NATION NEED.
THE 2025 EDITION OF TALISMAN SABRE WILL TAKE PLACE AT VARIOUS ADF TRAINING SITES IN QUEENSLAND, AS WELL AS IN THE WATERS AND AIRSPACE AROUND THE CORAL SEA.
IT’S ALL SLATED TO KICK OFF AROUND MID-JULY.
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