The Philippines and United States have started their joint marine exercises to improve both sides' maritime security capabilities in order to fulfill their mutual commitment to enhance the security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the US Embassy in Manila announced.

"On January 27, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps began training with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as part of Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2022 to further the maritime security capabilities of the US and the Philippines," the Embassy said in a statement.

During MAREX 22, the two countries will conduct maritime operations training to boost their joint ability to enhance mutual defense capabilities and respond to natural disasters.

The embassy noted that due to the pandemic, the forces will minimize contact throughout the exercise and implement protocols to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen our enduring alliance with the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region through combined amphibious operations,” Capt. Karry DeWayne Sanders, commodore of Amphibious Squadron One, said.

“Our shared focus of regional security, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific will continue to enhance our partner nation’s capability as it has for the last seven decades,” Sanders added.

The marine exercises will last until Feb. 2. The training includes amphibious assault coordination and execution, subject matter expert exchanges, and integrated maritime operations such as search and seizure operations and tactical maneuvering.

“Our goal is to successfully integrate our forces during planning and execution to conduct a full-scale, expeditionary amphibious operation, side-by-side with our Filipino partners. This exercise will further strengthen our commitment in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as be a memorable experience for our Marines and sailors,” said Col. James Lively, Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, on the other hand, said that they "must continue to conduct relevant training that will improve our individual and collective capabilities.”

“MAREX is joined by our foreign counterpart and our major ally, the United States Marine Corps, that has long been training with us and sharing with us the duty to preserve regional peace and security,” he said.

The US maritime assets participating in the exercise include the ships of the Essex (ESX) Amphibious Ready Group comprised of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Portland (LPD 27), and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) with the embarked forces of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to include Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214, and Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 11. Together, these units form a robust team to work alongside their Philippine Navy and Marine Corps counterparts.