As the Philippines faces rising living costs and growing concerns about food security, the Philippine government has green-lit the annual Balikatan military exercises with the United States and other partners, even as farmers warn these drills come at the expense of harder farming conditions samely brought upon by the US war on Iran.
Balikatan, the Philippines’ most prominent joint military exercise with the United States, intended to strengthen interoperability and defense cooperation under longstanding bilateral agreements. The 2026 iteration, set to run from April 20 to May 8, is expected to be one of the largest in history with over 17,000 troops and expanded multinational participation including Japan, Australia, France, and others.
However, farmers, fisherfolk, and rural communities have condemned the exercises and warned that prioritizing military drills deepens existing socio-economic problems, especially at a time when poor food production and agricultural distress remain urgent national issues. Fuel and fertlizer prices have steeply spiked and has hampered production, forcing farmers to abandon planting altogether.
In the past Balikatan exercises, communities have repeatedly reported that military exercises, including no-sail zones, live fire exercises, and restricted areas, disrupt local livelihoods. In the 2025 Balikatan, fisherfolks reported strict sea zone restrictions, including so-called “no-sail zones” in parts of Ilocos Norte and Zambales where fishing boats were barred from sailing, and that local governments only gave limited notice before enforcement began. Accounts from these groups describe extended fishing bans, up to 19 days in some areas, which cut into peak fishing seasons and household incomes. Also in 2025, farmer and fisherfolk communities in Aparri were prevented to go outside their homes, especially during peak season in fishing and farmers were aiming to have their palay dried.
Government officials and foreign partners emphasize that Balikatan supposedly strengthens defense preparedness amid regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea. Farmers argue that heavy investment in military alignment undermines national autonomy and security, particular to US warmongering that was proven to be its current agenda — as seen in Iran, Palestine, Venezuela, Cuba, and also in the Asia-Pacific region. Locally, US imperialist agenda further encroaches on PH land. The Pax Silica initiative that the PH government has recently signed effectively sells out our land and resources to war production efforts.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) insists that ongoing drills come at the expense of food producers at a time when many Filipino families are struggling with soaring costs, declining agricultural yields, and dependence to importation. KMP strongly calls for the government to instead prioritize controlling fuel and fertilizer price and rechannel public funds to support food production immediately, as a “Super El Niño” is expected to hit the country in a few months. At the same time, we call on farmers and peace-loving people to reject the Philippine government’s constant alignment with the US military agenda that only endangers Filipino people and further empowers US foothold in the region, in the time of a possibility of global imperialist war. ###
