SHIPS from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Australian Defense Force (ADF) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailed together on Saturday in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations (ALON) 2025.
PH, Australia, Canada hold joint sea drills
The Mutual Cooperative Activity (MCA) was designed to enhance interoperability and coordination between the participating navies by practicing communication, domain awareness, and tactical maneuvers at sea.
The Philippine Navy deployed its flagship, the guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal. The Australian navy was represented by the HMAS Brisbane, and Canadian navy by the HMCS Ville de Quebec.
The exercise featured helicopter cross-deck landings, personnel transfers via the MH-60 Seahawk, rigid-hulled inflatable boats and ship-to-ship interoperability drills.
The AFP said the activity showcases the three countries’ resolve to “uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific” as well as their commitment to promote freedom of navigation, regional stability, and collective maritime security.
The Philippines and Australia on Friday further strengthened their defense partnership by agreeing to come up with a defense cooperation agreement next year.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles held the second Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting in Makati City where they reaffirmed the strategic partnership between their countries.
Marles said Australia will build military infrastructure projects in unspecified locations in the country.
Teodoro said the agreement with Australia will not be like the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which grants US troops access to specific Philippine military bases and the right to build infrastructures but not a permanent base.
PH, Australia, Canada hold joint sea drills, This news data comes from:http://www.redcanaco.com
- Summer brings overtourism fears for 'Bavarian Caribbean'
- Lacson to govt: Protect education budget
- House party leaders want to return proposed 2026 budget to Executive
- Appointments panel holds first session
- Cebu Pacific to launch direct flights between Cebu and Palawan
- Napolcom welcomes Nartatez’s move to recall Torre’s reassignments
- Two dead as strong earthquake jolts Afghanistan
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- Former DPWH chief denies links to corruption
- LTO summons driver who berated MMDA enforcer
