Australia participated in a maritime cooperative activity with the Philippines and the United States on Tuesday, allowing each nation’s armed forces to share tactics and techniques to improve collaborations when responding to security issues.
Held within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the exercise saw the Royal Australian Navy demonstrate the capability of its HMAS Sydney guided-missile destroyer. The Philippine Navy showcased its BRP Antonio Luna guided missile frigate and aircraft. Participating assets from the U.S. included F/A-18s from the U.S. Marine Corps and F-16s and a B-1B aircraft from the U.S. Air Force.
The activity is the second MCA in 2025 that the Australian Defence Force participated in. In February, the HMAS Hobart held drills with its counterparts from Japan, the Philippines and the United States.
According to the Australian defense ministry, the three nations share a common interest in upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful use of the sea and international airspace.
RAN’s participation aligns with the Australian government’s strategy of nurturing relationships with regional and international allies while maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. In early April, ADF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted 20 exercises at the Joint Australian Training Team-Philippines, including combat planning, maritime and aircraft maintenance, and intelligence analysis.
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