FRANCE 24 report: Over 17,000 US and allied troops take part in Balikatan drills

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

Over the past few weeks, US and Philippine forces have been engaged in their largest-ever joint military exercises. Known as Balikatan, the drills are taking place across the Philippines and are designed to boost regional security as Beijing grows increasingly assertive in the region. This year’s ex