Philippines and Australia bolster Maritime Defense ties with Joint Exercise
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to regional security and interoperability this week, concluding the second joint maritime exercise, ALON (Armada ng sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas – Australian Defence Force), on August 29th. The drills, involving over 3,600 personnel, underscore growing defense cooperation amid increasing regional tensions in the South China Sea.
The Combined Joint Force Exercise Operations (CJFEO) component of ALON showcased the ability of Philippine and Australian amphibious forces to conduct complex operations, including naval gunfire support, amphibious assaults, and maritime strike missions.This year’s exercise expanded beyond bilateral cooperation to include participation from the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Canadian Navy, with observer teams from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Indonesia.
Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. highlighted the extensive planning and logistical effort behind the successful operation. “A tremendous amount of logistics and planning has gone into what we witnessed here. I think credit also goes to not only those who actually participated in the assault, but those who went into the months of planning, months of preparation,” he stated. Teodoro emphasized the practical benefits of such exercises, noting their importance in preparing for potential joint responses to natural disasters or other contingencies.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of the exercise in strengthening interoperability between the two nations. ”This exercise is about Australia and the Philippines… It’s about building the interoperability between two countries which share values and have one intent, and that is to uphold the rules-based order in this region,” Marles said.
ALON, held from August 15th to 29th, went beyond purely military maneuvers. It incorporated special operations integration, cyber resilience training, civil-military engagements, religious capability building, and public affairs cooperation.
The exercise builds upon a deepening security partnership between the Philippines and Australia,formalized through a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) signed in 2023. This agreement facilitates increased military cooperation,including joint training exercises and reciprocal access for troops and equipment. The increased collaboration reflects shared concerns over China’s assertive actions in the South China sea and a commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines, under the management of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,has been actively seeking to strengthen alliances with traditional partners like the United States and Australia while navigating a complex relationship with China.
