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The Philippines said on Wednesday it would hold large-scale military exercises with the United States next month, a joint military drill that aims to ensure the readiness of Philippine and US forces. The maneuvers, an annual event which will involve nearly 7,000 troops, will reinforce the close military ties between the longtime allies, armed forces chief Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa said. "The cooperation between the two armed forces manifests the unswerving dedication and commitment of our security forces toward a more stable and secure Asia-Pacific region," Dellosa said in a statement. "I'm delighted to announce the United States' participation in the 28th exercise of Balikatan. The longevity of this bilateral exercise speaks to the health of our alliance as we stand shoulder- to-shoulder next to our Philippine allies," US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. said in a statement. Around 4,500 US personnel and 2,300 Armed Forces from the Philippines will participate in the exercise. This year's exercise will also include, for the first time, soldiers from Southeast Asian countries. Training will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise, multiple field training exercises, medical, veterinary, and engineering humanitarian and civic assistance projects. The exercises are called Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning shoulder-to-shoulder. Twenty participants from other Southeast Asian countries are also expected to take part in the drills, the US embassy statement said. | 
