Australia and the Philippines are set to deepen their defence ties with a significant increase in joint military training activities this year, as part of efforts to enhance interoperability and regional security.
The Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program will conduct more than 20 training exercises and exchanges in 2025—more than double the number held in 2024. Since its establishment in 2019, the program has facilitated Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to work alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), supporting a range of joint exercises.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, highlighted the program’s role in strengthening bilateral defence relations.
“The JATT-P program allows us to continue building the strong people-to-people links that support our deep cooperation in defence and security,” Jones said. “The Philippines is one of Australia’s most important regional defence partners, and we share a commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
He added that the expanded engagements underscore Australia’s commitment to being a “major and reliable defence partner” in the region.1
Throughout the year, Australian MTTs will train hundreds of AFP personnel and officials from the Philippine Department of National Defense. The program covers specialized skills, including joint planning, fire support, combat engineering, maritime sustainment, aircraft maintenance, intelligence analysis, and aviation safety.
Major Lachlan Newham, JATT-P Coordinator, noted that the 2025 training agenda builds on past successes, spanning maritime, land, and air operations, as well as cybersecurity and logistics.
“Our experience with JATT-P has shown it’s an invaluable way to share expertise and strengthen mutual understanding,” Major Newham said. “A defining feature is the close personal bonds and trust that develop between our personnel and their Filipino counterparts.”
The initiative falls under Australia’s Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program with the Philippines, reinforcing both nations’ commitment to regional stability and military collaboration.
