Amid the increased military activity in the South China Sea and China's attempts to militarise the islets, the US and the Philippines have started a joint navy drill, Exercise 'Sama Sama' near Subic Bay in the region.
The eighth edition of Exercise Sama Sama—meaning “togetherness” in Tagalog—which will last for two weeks, is aimed at boosting interoperability and strengthening security ties among regional partners, including Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and Japan. 'Sama Sama 2024' is part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series, which is the US Navy's oldest and longest continually-running exercise in South and Southeast Asia.
The US Navy, US Marine Corps, the Armed Forces of the Philippines apart from navies of "like-minded partners from across the Indo-Pacific" will engage in specialised training across a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, legal operations, engineering, logistics, and public affairs, the US department of defence said in a release.
High-intensity drills focusing on anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and maritime domain awareness are part of the joint military exercise.
The exercise, which began as a bilateral event between the United States and the Philippines is now a multilateral and multiplatform operation, highlighting the strength of the alliances and the shared commitment to peace, security, and cooperation in the maritime domain, US Head of Delegation, Rear Admiral Todd Cimicata, Commander Logistics Western Pacific, and Task Force 73, said.
“Today we witness the deepening of ties between the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Navy along with our partners from Australia, Canada, France, United Kingdom, and Japan...This exercise is a powerful investment for our collective movement and an opportunity to address regional challenges together," Philippine Navy Head of Delegation, Rear Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy was quoted as saying.
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US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, personnel from US 7th Fleet; Command Task Forces (CTF) 76, 75 and 72; Command, Destroyer Squadron Seven (DESRON 7); and the Marine Corps’ Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia will participate in the event. Philippine Navy will join with BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150); BRP Waray (LC-288); BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380); a Force Reconnaissance Group, and Naval Special Operations Unit 2.
The Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) and a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Shin Maywa US-2 amphibious aircraft and Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft will also participate in the joint drill.