The Philippine Navy (PN) and the Indonesian Navy (IDN) discussed bilateral ties and future collaboration in a high-level meeting that seeks to ensure a rules-based order, and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The PN hosted the Indonesian Navy in Manila during the 13th Navy-to-Navy Cooperation Meeting (NTNCM) on Thursday, Dec. 8.
The meeting was co-chaired by Commodore Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, PN chief of naval staff; and First Admiral Retiono Kunto, IDN vice assistant chief.
“During the meeting, both navies reaffirmed cooperation through high-level meetings, bilateral and multilateral naval exercises, naval operations, and education and training exchanges,” Commander Benjo Negranza, PN spokesperson, said Friday, Dec. 9.
“This year’s face-to-face interaction was another milestone in the relationship between Indonesia and the Philippines which contributes to rules-based order and in maintaining regional peace and stability,” he added.
The NTNCM was established in 2010 as a regular conversation between the two navies to talk about potential areas of partnership.
Prior to the staff to staff talks, Kunto paid a courtesy call on PN Flag Officer in Command, Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. on Wednesday at the PN headquarters in Manila.
Adaci acknowledged the trilateral cooperative agreement of the Philippines with Indonesia and Malaysia which, he said, contributed to the reduction of criminal incidents in Sibutu Strait and Sulu Sea in recent years.
The PN will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Multilateral Naval Exercise (AMNEX) in 2023 which will be attended by the IDN.