KAMANDAG 9 kicks off with Philippines, U.S., Japan, Korea, U.K. in major Indo-Pacific drill
Philippine, U.S., Japanese, Korean, and UK military leaders officially launched KAMANDAG 9 on Monday at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown. The exercise marks the start of the ninth edition of “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” or “Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea.”
KAMANDAG 9 will run from May 26 to June 6, 2025, bringing together troops from the Philippines, U.S., Japan, South Korea, the UK, and other observing nations. This collaborative training aims to boost amphibious readiness, maritime security, and joint response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
Trilateral Partnerships and Integrated Training
Brig. Gen. Vicente Blanco, Deputy Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, welcomed the participation of new partner nations in this year’s exercise. He emphasized that unity among allies sends a strong message of deterrence and regional solidarity.
Led by the Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. forces including Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 and the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, the training will span multiple Philippine locations. KAMANDAG 9 will also strengthen trilateral military coordination between the Philippines, Japan, and the United States.
Expanded Multinational Participation and Public Events
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is participating for the first time as a fully integrated amphibious partner. ARDB troops will engage in boat and medical operations with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of expanded real-world interoperability.
Col. Jason Armas of MRF-D 25.3 highlighted the importance of training together in harsh conditions to build combat effectiveness. Two key events, a Humanitarian Aid Disaster Relief drill on June 2 and a Counter-Landing Live-Fire event on June 4 in Palawan, will be open to the media.
