Philippine Navy Capt. Arnel F. Teodoro, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Malampaya, greet senior leadership from a U.S. Naval Special Warfare unit and the Australian Defense Force 2nd Commando Regiment during Balikatan 23 , in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines,April 11, 2023. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. U.S. Naval Special Warfare is the nation’s elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach and gain and maintain access for the Joint Force in competition and conflict. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Gaither)