US-Philippine Drills Open in Uncertainty: Are They the Last?

MANILA, Philippines— U.S. and Philippine forces opened joint combat exercises under some uncertainty on Tuesday, days after the Philippines’ new leader said they would be the last such drills of his six-year presidency.Marine commanders from both sid...

Maj. Gen. Andre Costales, Commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps, salutes the flags at the opening ceremony for the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marines corps in Taguig city east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016. President Rodrigo Duterte said he was giving notice to the United States, his country's long-standing ally, that joint exercises between Filipino and American troops this week will be the last such drills. He told the Filipino community in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, last week that he will maintain the military alliance with the U.S. because of the countries' 1951 defense treaty. But he said this week's exercises will proceed only because he did not want to embarrass his defense secretary.AP Photo/Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines—U.S. and Philippine forces opened joint combat exercises under some uncertainty on Tuesday, days after the Philippines’ new leader said they would be the last such drills of his six-year presidency.

Marine commanders from both sides said at the opening ceremony that the exercises, involving 1,100 American and 400 Filipino military personnel, are aimed at improving readiness by the two countries to respond to a range of crises while deepening their historic ties.

Angered by U.S. criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that the maneuvers would be the last of his term, which began in June. His foreign secretary later said the decision was not final, sparking questions as to whether other annual U.S.-Philippine military exercises would proceed as planned.

U.S. Marines Brig. Gen. John Jansen, on stage at left, of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Maj. Gen. Andre Costales, center, Commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps, watch the opening ceremony for the 33rd joint U.S.-Philippines exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at marines corps in Taguig, east of Manila, Philippines Oct. 4, 2016. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez