FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga— The Philippine Air Force on Thursday hosted military representatives from five Asia-Pacific nations during an International Observer Program (IOP) held at Basa Air Base as part of Cope Thunder 25-1, a multilateral exercise aimed at enhancing regional defense coordination.
Delegates from Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia attended the event, which spotlighted the PAF’s increasing involvement in security cooperation efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The IOP reflects the PAF’s strategic focus on readiness, allied engagement, and maintaining regional stability amid rising tensions in the broader Asia-Pacific landscape.