US, Australia, and Philippines conduct maritime exercises

The United States, Australia, and the Philippines conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone from August 19 to 25, 2026. The seven-day exercise, held off the coast of Palawan, focused on enhancing tactical interoperability and maritime doctrines among the participating nations.

Key training components included anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue, visit, board, search and seizure, and replenishment-at-sea. The exercise featured various assets, such as the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Diego Silang, the Australian replenishment oiler HMAS Supply, and the US Navy littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara.

Captain John Pierce Alcos, commanding officer of the BRP Diego Silang, noted that these activities provide an invaluable avenue for the Philippine Navy to integrate seamlessly with partner navies for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, or potential conflict scenarios.