Philippines, US navies start SAMASAMA exercise

The Philippine Navy and the United States (US) Navy on Monday started its annual bilateral exercise dubbed SAMASAMA to improve interoperability and cooperation between the two forces.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said around 700 sailors and marines are set to join different activities in the National Capital Region and Naval Forces Southern Luzon.

Training and exercises at shore and sea will be held to boost the capability of the two navies in maritime security operations, maritime situational awareness, logistics, as well as command and control.

BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), an AW109 naval helicopter, C-90 aircraft, and a Naval Special Operations Unit will participate during the sea phase of the exercise.

Several countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Australia will join the drills for subject matter expert exchanges and events related to humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

SAMASAMA is a vital platform for participating navies to exchange best practices “to foster regional cooperation in response to shared and mutual challenges as well as non-traditional concerns”.

“Exercise SAMASAMA is about enhancing interoperability, fostering regional cooperation, and tackling non-traditional challenges that transcend our borders,” Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. said in his speech during the opening ceremony at the Philippine Navy Headquarters in Manila.

“From territorial defense to countering transnational crimes, SAMASAMA equips us to face an array of threats together,” he added.

For his part, US 7th Fleet commander Vice Admiral Karl Thomas said, "It is really important that we all recognize that the global maritime commons are used by everybody and everybody wants maritime global commons to be free and open.”

“When we do exercises like SAMASAMA, it allows us to really focus our efforts to improve across all of the countries, across all of the navies.”

Asked if he is optimistic that the exercise will deter China from its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, Karl said he is “very optimistic about the future.”

“I am very optimistic that through diplomacy, information, the need for a free and open economy, working together with like-minded nations, I am very optimistic that we can navigate the challenges in the waters right in front of us,” he said. —NB, GMA Integrated News