PH, Australia Launch Maritime Cooperative Activity

27 November 2023

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba, BRP Davao Del Sur and BRP Gregorio del Pilar (photo : PN)

Philippines-Australia Maritime Cooperative Activity

Australia and the Philippines are close friends and strategic partners.

In September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the Philippines HE Ferdinand R Marcos Jr signed a Strategic Partnership between our two countries, which establishes an enduring framework for closer cooperation.

From 25-27 November, our armed forces will conduct the inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines. This represents the practical implementation of our Strategic Partnership.

The Maritime Cooperative Activity will include Philippine Navy vessels BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Davao Del Sur, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba, five Philippine Air Force surveillance aircraft, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.

The Maritime Cooperative Activity highlights our shared commitment to exercising freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law, in support of a peaceful, secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

Australia and the Philippines both support the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as final and legally binding on both parties.​ (DND)

AFP, Aussie Defence Force conduct joint air patrol in WPS

 

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) performed a joint air patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during the weekend, part of the two countries’ inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity.

The Philippine Air Force's A29B Super Tucano and N-22 Nomad, Philippine Navy's BNI2A aircraft, and ADF's P-8 Poseidon Maritime Surveillance aircraft took part in the activity.

The aircrafts took off from the Antonio Bautista Air Base ramp in the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

On Saturday, Philippine Navy vessels BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Davao Del Sur, and Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba patrolled in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, along with two A29 Super Tucanos.

The AFP-ADF activity aims to enhance maritime interoperability and deepen strategic partnership as signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sept. 8.

RAAF P8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance aircraft (photo : RAAF)

“We endeavor to enhance bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness; test doctrines, existing protocols, and enhance efficiency; and foster closer cooperation between our countries' armed forces,” Marcos said during the signing.

“This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that may follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.”

In August, the AFP and the ADF held their first amphibious exercise in the city of Darwin under the Indo-Pacific Endeavor activities.

Filipino and Australian troopers also conducted special training for jungle and urban warfare at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal in May as part of the Army-to-Army Exercise “Kasangga” 23-2. 

(PNA)