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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Exercise ALON: AFP sails with Australia, Canada in West PH Sea

Exercise ALON: AFP sails with Australia, Canada in West PH Sea

Published Aug 24, 2025 11:51 am  |  Updated Aug 24, 2025 01:42 pm
HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) conducts a crossdeck hoisting operation with HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) during a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under Exercise ALON in the West Philippine Sea on August 23, 2025. (Photo: AFP)
HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) conducts a crossdeck hoisting operation with HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) during a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under Exercise ALON in the West Philippine Sea on August 23, 2025. (Photo: AFP)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, Aug. 23, as part of the ongoing Exercise ALON.
Philippine Navy (PN) guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FFF150) sailed alongside Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Hobart-class air warfare destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG41), and RCN’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) west southwest off El Nido, Palawan in a coordinated maneuver meant to enhance interoperability and demonstrate growing security cooperation among the three countries.
The AFP said the joint sail underscored the country’s commitment to strengthen defense partnerships with like-minded nations.
“The engagement reflects a shared resolve to uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific and reinforces the commitment of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada to promote freedom of navigation, regional stability, and collective maritime security,” the military stated.
The three ships performed several exercises such as a crossdeck hoisting and vertical personnel transfer wherein the MH-60 helicopter of HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) transferred personnel to BRP Jose Rizal (FF150).
A similar crossdeck hoisting was also conducted between HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332).
In addition, personnel exchange through a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) was carried out, with HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) and the HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332)  transferring personnel to BRP Jose Rizal (FF150).
The joint sail occurred as Manila and Canberra signed a statement of intent to pursue a defense cooperation agreement following a meeting between Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles on Aug. 22.
The planned defense agreement places in concrete form the way that the two countries want their defense partnership to grow and progress. It builds on the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation between the two countries.
Through the defense cooperation agreement, both the Philippines and Australia agreed to build a defense infrastructure plan that will “guide the way in which our infrastructure investment is pursued over the coming years.” At present, Australia is planning to establish eight military infrastructure projects across five different locations in the Philippines.
Australia has long been a close security partner of the Philippines, with the two countries bound by the 2012 Status of Visiting Forces Agreement that allows Australian troops to train on Philippine soil.
Both countries have since expanded their cooperation through regular activities, including Exercise ALON, a Filipino word which translates to “wave” in English.
Exercise ALON, or Amphibious and Land Operations, is the AFP’s largest amphibious exercise with Australia. More than 3,600 personnel from the AFP, ADF, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and RCN are participating in the exercise, which is being held at training locations around the islands of Palawan and Luzon facing the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from Aug. 15 to 29.
The drills span amphibious operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and maritime security.
Officials stressed that the activities are defensive and cooperative in nature, designed to improve coordination in addressing common challenges at sea, from natural disasters to maritime security threats.

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Exercise ALON Armed Forces of the Philippines Australia Canada West Philippine Sea
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