US Navy 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Frederick William Kacher visited Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the United States and the Philippines.
Kacher met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura to discuss pivotal security matters, reaffirming their commitment to upholding rules-based international law. The discussions focused on promoting a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
“They also discussed their progressive engagements in multilateral partnerships that aim to advance collective maritime domain security,” said AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad.
Cordura thanked the US for its unwavering support and cooperation, which plays a crucial role in bolstering the AFP’s operational capabilities. He emphasized the importance of joint activities like the annual Balikatan Exercise, which significantly improve interoperability and crisis response capabilities.
“Part of AFP’s initiatives is to make our systems synchronized, to incorporate the narrative of the defense concept that is more focused on addressing contingency and probable challenges anchored on our shared values,” Cordura said.