MANILA, Philippines- Naglayag nang magkasama ang navies ng Pilipinas at ng United States sa West Philippine Sea nitong Lunes, bilang pagpapatuloy ng aktibidad na naantala sa administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Nagsagawa ang Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) at US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) ng “bilateral sail” sa kanluran ng Palawan bilang parte ng “robust maritime cooperation,” ayon sa Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Pinagulong ng dalawang warships sa ilalim ng AFP Western Command at ng US Navy 7th Fleet ang division tactics exercises, communication exercises at iba’t ibang maneuvers, ayon sa AFP.
“This event aims to provide an opportunity for the Philippine Navy and the US Indo-Pacific Navy to test and refine existing maritime doctrine and demonstrate their defense capabilities in line with the shared commitment of upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific Region,” dagdag nito.
Ang AFP, isinagawa ang aktibidad sa ilalim ng Mutual Defense Board–Security Engagement Board framework na naglalayong i-develop ang “operational interoperability” sa pagitan ng dalawang navies. RNT/SA
