The Philippines and the US are starting the year with another maritime activity in the South China Sea as they commit to bolster regional security and stability in the contested waters.
Three vessels from the Philippines and four from the US started conducting on Wednesday, Jan. 3, their two-day Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), which the US said is "designed to support" the longstanding partnership between the two militaries and "further advance" combined capabilities in the maritime domain.
The Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio del Pilar, BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao del Sur are joining USS Carl Vinson, USS Princeton, USS Kidd and USS Sterett to sail in the waters and enhance planning and maritime communications operations.
“Our strike group welcomes the opportunity to conduct maritime activities," Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG)-1, a multiplatform team of ships and aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe
“Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and information sharing with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to enhance our ability to coordinate on maritime domain awareness and other shared security interests,” he added.
The US Navy is regularly conducting exercises like its recent one with the Philippines “to strengthen ties among allied and partner nations.”
“These exercises enhance combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” a news arm of US Defense Department said.
CSG-1 departed San Diego on Oct. 12 for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific.
Since entering the US 7th Fleet area of operations, CSG-1 participated in the Multi-Large Deck Event and Annual Exercise 2023 in the Philippine Sea.
The exercise, the US Defense Department said, provided opportunities to collaborate with allied forces such as the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and JMSDF to further strengthen regional cooperative efforts.
US 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with its allies "in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region," it added.