Philippines, Australia, Canada hold West Philippine Sea drills

MANILA, Philippines —  Philippine, Australian and Canadian warships sailed alongside each other while conducting various drills off Mindoro on Tuesday under Exercise ALON (Amphibious and Land Operations) 2025.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the combined sail was a clear demonstration of growing maritime cooperation among like-minded nations in the region.

The warships of the Philippine Navy, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Royal Canadian Navy conducted their coordinated naval exercises off Southwest Lubang Island in Mindoro.

The AFP said the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal, Australia’s HMAS Brisbane and Canada’s HMCS Ville de Québec took part in the exercises, which included Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise, night steaming in company and flight quarters drills.

The flotilla also conducted transfer drills, communications exercise and an Officer of the Watch manning exercise.

“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 said.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP public affairs office chief, said the activities were designed to enhance interoperability, improve operational readiness and strengthen maritime security cooperation among participants.

More than 3,600 personnel from the AFP and the ADF also kicked off two-week combined training exercises in various parts of Luzon and Palawan last Aug. 15. The joint exercises run until Aug. 29.

Meanwhile, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles will visit the Philippines this week, the Australian embassy announced yesterday. No exact date was given.

In a statement, Marles said he is looking forward to meeting Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro “to discuss ways to deepen Australia-Philippines defense cooperation by building capacity and strengthening interoperability.”

On Tuesday, President Marcos welcomed Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown and three other newly designated ambassadors at Malacañang. Innes-Brown replaced HK Yu. – Pia Lee-Brago