Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido has called for a stronger regional security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific Region, noting the “crucial role” it plays in strengthening defense cooperation.

“These collaborative efforts will play a crucial role in strengthening defense relations and improving cooperation among allied and partner land forces in the broader Indo-Pacific Region,” Galido said in a statement Monday.

The Army chief made the call as he represented Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during the opening ceremony of the three-week Exercise Talisman Sabre in Sydney, Australia, over the weekend.

Galido also emphasized the PA’s commitment to enhancing interoperability among land forces across the region through increased participation in multilateral or bilateral exercises.

While in Australia, Galido also attended the meeting of Army leaders from the CORE-FOUR members (Philippines, Australia, Japan and the US).

He also had bilateral dialogues with his counterparts in Australia, Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, and Germany, Lt. Gen. Alfons Mais.

Galido was also conferred the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Defense (JGSDF) Cooperation Medal by JGSDF chief of staff Gen. Morishita Yasunori in a separate meeting at the Intercontinental Sydney.

The award recognized Galido’s contributions that significantly advanced the defense cooperation between the PA and the JGSDF and reinforced the strategic partnership between the two nations.

The award citation particularly highlighted Galido’s proactive participation in high-level multilateral defense dialogues such as the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference, Land Forces Summit, and Land Forces Pacific Symposium.

It also highlighted his sustained commitment to promoting multilateral collaboration among the CORE FOUR nations through the Land Forces Dialogue (LFD) and related initiatives.

The award noted Galido’s leadership of the PA and its participation in key bilateral and multilateral military exercises such as “Balikatan,” “Salaknib,” and “Yamasakura.”

This achievement “is of particular importance in the context of implementing the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement. Your exemplary service and unwavering dedication have greatly enhanced Japan’s security posture and deterrence architecture within the Indo-Pacific theater,” according to the citation presented by Yasunori.

Galido, for his part, said the award is “not only a symbol of friendship between the Philippines and Japan but also a reflection of the strong partnership and camaraderie built through mutual respect, cooperation, and shared purpose.” (PNA)