The Philippine and US coast guards participated for the first time in joint military drills, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday, joining broader exercises held by the two allies in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entire disputed waterway—through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes—despite an international ruling that its assertion has no merit.
The “maritime cooperative activity” was held Tuesday in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro in the western Philippines. The two countries’ coast guards have held joint exercises before, but never as part of combined military drills, which the AFP said reflected a “growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation.”
The Philippine Coast Guard deployed its 97-meter ship BRP Melchora Aquino and 44-meter ship BRP Malapascua, while the US Coast Guard used the cutter Stratton, the military said. These vessels joined Philippine Navy and Air Force assets and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in a series of exercises including communication checks, search and rescue, and division tactics.
“As the Philippines continues to navigate evolving maritime challenges, joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the AFP’s commitment to modernizing its capabilities and strengthening defense partnerships to secure our national and regional maritime interests,” AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.
Naval and air units from the AFP and the US Indo-Pacific Command took part in the sixth bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA). Participating Philippine Navy assets included the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905), an AW-109 naval helicopter, the Philippine Air Force’s Super Tucano and Sokol helicopters, and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua.
The United States deployed the US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon to enhance the combined forces’ surveillance and operational coordination capabilities.
According to the AFP, this marks the first time Philippine and US Coast Guard vessels have participated together in such an activity. The MCA series began in November 2023.
The sixth MCA featured a range of activities, including a communications check exercise, search and rescue drill, division tactics, officer of the watch maneuver, photo exercise, and a final exercise. With AFP