Subic Bay, PHILIPPINES. A U.S. Military plane takes off from Subic Bay International Airport while US Naval ships that carried US Military equipment and personnel are docked at Subic Bay’s piers. They are here for Balikatan 2023, the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. The exercise includes three weeks of training focused on amphibious operations, command and control, humanitarian assistance, urban operations and counterterrorism skills throughout northern and western Luzon. Coastal defense training figures prominently in the Balikatan 23 training schedule. (Subic Bay News photo by Vic V. VIZCOCHO, Jr.) SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES, PHILIPPINES. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, and Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson, U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, speak while observing a littoral live fire event during Balikatan 23 at the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippines, April 26, 2023. Balikatan 2023 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews) SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES, PHILIPPINES. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lindsay Ford, deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, greet each other prior to observing a littoral live fire event during Balikatan 23 at the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippines, April 26, 2023. Balikatan 2023 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews) SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES, PHILIPPINES. A simulated aircraft is launched into the air as a target for a U.S. Army MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system for a coastal air defense event during Balikatan 23 at the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippines, April 25, 2023. Balikatan 2023 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews)