Philippines opens large-scale multilateral Alon exercise

Manila [Philippine], August 16: The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on August 16 that the Philippine and Australian armed forces have just opened the amphibious and land warfare exercise called Alon, the largest and most complex bilateral exercise since its launch in 2023.
The two-week multilateral exercise, which runs until August 29 in Palawan and Luzon, brings together more than 3,600 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the US Marine Corps' Darwin Rotational Force and the Royal Canadian Navy.
AFP deployed about 1,525 soldiers, including units from the 7th Infantry Division, armored troops, special forces, engineers, communications and medical teams from the Air Force and Navy to participate in the exercise.
Other participating forces include about 350 US Marines and an MV-22B Osprey aircraft and about 180 Canadian military personnel aboard the HMCS Ville de Quebec carrying a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.
Planned activities include amphibious landings, maritime exercises, large-scale airborne deployments of Australian Army task forces and live-fire exercises in land and sea areas.
The training will also cover cyberspace, civil-military coordination and foreign affairs. Organizers said any live-fire exercises will be accompanied by safety measures and public notice.
The opening ceremony on August 15 in Puerto Princesa City (Palawan Province) was attended by AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., Acting Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Moya Collett and ADF Deputy Commander of Joint Operations Hugh McAslan.
In his speech, General Brawner Jr. emphasized the strategic importance of the defense partnership between the Philippines and Australia.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, ADF Joint Operations Commander, said the exercise demonstrated the strength of the security relationship between the two countries.
"This is our largest overseas exercise with the Philippines. It is an opportunity to practice how we respond to common security challenges and project power across the Indo-Pacific region," he said.
AFP said the exercises reaffirm Australia and the Philippines' shared commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper