Major Indo-Pacific Military Exercise Set for May

Exercise KAMANDAG 9 will begin on May 26, 2025, uniting service members from the United States, Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea, and United Kingdom for a two-week training event across the Philippine archipelago. The exercise aims to strengthen multinational interoperability, readiness, and regional defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

Led by the Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps, with participation from the forward-deployed Marine Rotational Force–Darwin 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force, KAMANDAG—short for “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat”—has been held annually since 2016. It serves as a key demonstration of allied cooperation and mutual commitment to regional security.

Training will occur across Luzon, Batanes, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan, and will include amphibious operations, littoral maneuvers, live-fire drills, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Subject matter expert exchanges will cover engineering, logistics, air defense, unmanned reconnaissance, medical readiness, and CBRN defense.

This year’s expanded scope underscores growing global attention to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and highlights the shared commitment of participating nations to peace and stability in the region.