Philippine, US forces conduct joint maritime drill off Palawan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), along with naval and air units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command, conducted a joint capacity-building exercise off Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday to enhance maritime operational capabilities.

The 6th Philippines-United States Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity featured real-world scenario exercises including inter-agency coordination and life-saving responses, as well as communications check, search and rescue, division tactics, photo, and finish exercises.

Philippine forces deployed multiple ships such as BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Domingo Deluana, BRP Melchora Aquino, and BRP Malapascua along with an AW109 naval helicopter and Philippine Air Force's 'Super Tucano' and 'Sokol' helicopters, while the USCG contributed the ship USCGC Stratton and the US Navy provided a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

This exercise is part of ongoing efforts to bolster defense coordination amid increased Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, with similar drills taking place between the Philippines and Australia.

The joint activities reaffirm the AFP's commitment to modernizing its capabilities and strengthening defense partnerships to secure national and regional maritime interests.