The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is eyeing to hold a trilateral military exercise with Indonesia and Malaysia as it continuously train and equip in its effort become a modern military organization.
Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said the country’s exercise with two of its neighbors should be a good sequel to the ongoing counterterrorism and anti-piracy operations with them at sea.
“We also have this trilateral exercise, naval patrols with navy, with Indonesia and Malaysia, not only maritime patrol, but also aerial patrol. So maybe we could also go into naval exercises with them in the future,” he said on Monday during the arrival ceremony for the contingent that participated in the Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) exercise in Hawaii.
Lorenzana said that as the world faces growing maritime security challenges, there is a need for navies to work together to increase familiarity and exchange best practices as what the Filipino sailors have learned from the Rimpac.