Australia has strengthened its defense cooperation with the Philippines, launching over 20 joint training exercises and exchange programs under the 2025 Joint Australian Training Team–Philippines initiative—more than twice the number held in 2024.
As part of the effort, reconnaissance forces from Australia’s 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, participated in field exercises with the Philippine Army’s 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions at Camp Kibaritan in Mindanao.
Training scenarios focused on reconnaissance tactics and territorial defense, enabling both militaries to exchange operational insights and boost combined operational effectiveness.
Australian troops demonstrated stealth-based recon techniques such as counter-drone strategies and thermal signature reduction, while Philippine soldiers showcased survival skills—including local water sourcing and foraging—drawn from their experience in guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency operations.
The joint exercises aimed to deepen tactical alignment and prepare both forces for future joint deployments.
