For the third consecutive week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), this time engaging with its naval counterpart from France.
The AFP and the French Navy collaborated in a series of activities within the joint operational area of Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) on Friday, Feb. 21 designed to enhance their interoperability, communication, and defense capabilities, said AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr.
“Through joint maritime cooperative activities and collaborative efforts, the AFP seeks to build a stronger, more resilient defense system that is prepared to address the challenges of the modern security landscape,” he said.
The AFP deployed Philippine Navy warships BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS15), a Beechcraft King Air C90 utility aircraft, two FA50 fighter jets, and Philippine Air Force search and rescue (SAR) units.
Meanwhile, the French Navy utilized its aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (R91), frigate Europeenne multi-mission destroyer Provence (D652), force supply vessel Jacques Chevallier (A725), air defense destroyer Forbin (D620), and Aquitaine-class frigate Alsace (D656).
The combined AFP and French Navy forces held a series of drills that included Communications Check Exercise (COMMEX), Division Tactics/Officer of the Watch (DIVTACS/OOW) maneuvers, Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX), Replenishment at Sea, personnel exchange through rigid hull inflatable boats, Anti-submarine warfare exercises, and Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training.
Brawner said the successive conduct of MCA with other like-minded nations underscored the growing international focus on maritime security in the West Philippine Sea and “aims to strengthen interoperability and defense capabilities among ally and partner nations.”
Last Feb. 5, the AFP teamed up with its counterparts from the United States, Australia, and Japan for the sixth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA), and the first for the year 2025.
This was followed by another MMCA on Feb. 12 involving the militaries of the Philippines, Canada, and United States.
The latest MCA came as the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) visited Manila as part of its “Mission Clemenceau 25”, a strategic deployment being undertaken by the French Navy since November last year that would take its naval forces from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, and from South-East Asia to the Western Pacific.
The historic stopover marked the first visit of the French Navy’s aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle to the Philippines, as it made an operational break in Subic Bay and Manila on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The visit builds on growing defense ties between the two nations, following the French Navy’s first participation in Exercise BALIKATAN 2024, during which the frigate Vendémiaire was deployed alongside Philippine and US forces, according to Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP’s public affairs office.
He said previous port calls by the destroyer Bretagne in Manila and the frigate Prairial in Cebu further underscored France’s commitment to regional security and the shared goal of strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Brawner, Paparo meet in Aguinaldo
Meanwhile, Brawner and Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom), held a top-level meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday to reaffirm the strong military partnership between the two countries and their unwavering commitment to regional peace and security.
They discussed bolstering defense cooperation, military collaboration, and security partnership, particularly through modernization, interoperability, and joint training, in line with treaty commitments.
The two military chiefs agreed to continue their close partnership to bolster regional stability and security amid tensions in the WPS.
Southern Leyte town backs AFP’s efforts in WPS
On the other hand, the AFP acknowledged the support expressed by the local government of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte on the government’s efforts to protect the country’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity in the WPS.
The municipal government of Hinunangan issued Resolution No. 736, Series of 2024 which “highlights the municipality’s strong commitment to upholding national sovereignty and supporting the AFP’s role in securing the country’s maritime territories.”
The AFP reiterated its commitment to ensuring peace and security in the region by working closely with government agencies and local communities.
“The unity of the Filipino people, alongside the dedication of our armed forces, is vital in maintaining the nation’s sovereign rights and fostering a secure maritime environment,” it said.