Between 7-8 August maritime units of Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command Area of Responsibility within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
The MCA included activities to enhance interoperability and cooperation among the participating forces. These activities encompassed communication exercises, officer of the watch manoeuvres, cross-deck landing operations, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and contact reporting/maritime domain awareness.
The particpating units were the cruiser USS Lake Erie, the frigates HMCS Montréal, BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Jose Rizal as well as a RAAF P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
In its media release, the US Navy said the purpose of the MCA was to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Demonstrating our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
In its comment of the MCA, the AFP said “General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the AFP, praised the exercise’s success, emphasising its vital role in strengthening regional security and fostering deeper cooperation among allied nations. He said, “This multilateral exercise met our objectives of enhancing tactical capabilities and interoperability. The seamless coordination and execution of the planned activities highlight the strong defense relationships we share and our collective commitment to ensuring a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
Sources: AFP, USN, CAF.
