By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA – Naval and air units from the Philippines and the United States conducted this year’s first maritime cooperative activity (MCA) at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Sunday.
In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the MCA took place in the Palawan area of the WPS with the US Indo-Pacific Command on Jan. 17 and 18.
“Philippine assets involved in the activity included the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), two FA-50 fighter aircraft, and Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue assets,” he said.
Participants on the US side were the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) carrier strike group that includes the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59), Arleigh Burke-class guided-destroyer USS Sterett (DDG-104), an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, a V-22 Osprey helicopter, and two F-18 Hornet jet fighters.
“On Jan. 17, the forces conducted a communications check exercise, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuver, and a photo exercise. The exercises continued on Jan. 18 with the participants conducting dissimilar aircraft combat training,” Trinidad said.
It was the fifth MCA between the AFP and US military units since the drills started in November 2023.
The MCA reinforces bilateral maritime cooperation and interoperability.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the MCA aims to increase the Philippines’ defense cooperation with its US counterparts.
“This MCA is a crucial element of our continued efforts to strengthen defense cooperation. With each exercise, we become increasingly prepared and effective in addressing the challenges ahead,” Brawner said in the same statement.
“This is a result of our shared commitment and mutual effort to safeguard our national interests and secure a peaceful region.” (PNA)