More than 4,000 US and Philippine soldiers will participate in amphibious landing exercises.

On September 19, the US and the Philippines announced that more than 4,000 soldiers from both countries will participate in a 12-day amphibious exercise starting September 29 on the Philippine islands of Palawan and Luzon.

The annual exercise will involve marines and navy, a spokesman for the Philippine Marine Corps said.

Illustration photo. (Source: AP)

The drills include command exercises, field training exercises, landing exercises, combined weapons training, and coordination of civil-military and humanitarian operations.

According to the US Embassy in Manila, the command exercise will focus on planning and executing territorial defense and maritime security operations with the aim of strengthening coordination between the two armed forces.

The Philippine military has so far relied heavily on its ally the United States for training assistance and logistical support.

In April, the two countries signed a new 10-year defense cooperation agreement that will allow Washington forces expanded access to Manila's military bases and facilities, including airports and seaports. The agreement was signed just hours before US President Barack Obama began an official visit to the Philippines./.

According to VNA