Balikatan Exercise 2015 Opening Ceremony

Balikatan Exercise 2015 Opening Ceremony.This year marks the beginning of the 31st iteration of the annual bilateral exercise aimed at improving defense cooperation. Honorary guests of Balikatan 2015’s opening ceremony pose for an official photo. This year’s ceremony commemorates the start of the 31st iteration of exercise Balikatan, which will involve over 11,000 combined troops from the US Armed Forces, Armed Forces Philippines and Austrlian Defence Force. (From left to right) Vice-Admiral Alexander Lopez, Philippine co-chair of Balikatan 2015, Philippine Defense Chief Voltaire Gazmin, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang and, Brig. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, US co-chair interlock arms in the spirit of exercise Balikatan, which is a Filipino term for “shoulder-to-shoulder.” (USEmbassy/Manila)