The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is bent on engaging in maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with the United States, with future exercises set to include additional assets and more advanced training scenarios.
“Moving forward, we plan to elevate these activities by incorporating more advanced training scenarios, expanding participation to include additional assets,” AFP spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla said Monday.
Padilla emphasized the significance of these joint drills in boosting the Philippines’ defense capabilities, noting its scope and complexity. She also suggested that future MCAs could involve other like-minded nations to enhance regional security.
“This will strengthen our collective ability to address evolving security challenges and maintain peace and stability in the region,” she added.
The AFP held an MCA with the US Navy in the South China Sea over the weekend aimed at enhancing Manila’s to safeguard its maritime territories and assert its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
It happened amid the unlawful presence of China Coast Guard’s (CCG) flagship vessel 5901, nicknamed ‘The Monster’ near the Zambales coastline, before its withdrawal around Sunday afternoon.
Padilla refrained from linking these developments, considering the involvement of carrier strike group USS Carl Vinson, among other US naval assets. “We cannot speculate on the actions or intentions of other nations regarding the movement of their vessels,” she told the Manila Standard.
The AFP official also noted that more MCAs are in the pipeline as part of ongoing efforts to enhance interoperability and readiness between the Philippine and US armed forces as well as promote freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
“As part of our longstanding defense partnership, this activity plays a crucial role in strengthening our cooperation, contributing to regional peace and stability. Our primary focus is to promote a rules-based order in the maritime domain and ensure the peace and security of the region,” she said.
The latest MCA was conducted over the weekend in the Palawan area of the WPS, involving naval and air units from both countries. AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the drills, held on Jan. 17 and 18, marked the fifth such activity since the joint exercises began in November 2023.