THE Australian maritime task group of HMA Ships Canberra, Sirius, and Anzac docked in Manila harbor for a three-day port visit starting Sunday as part of Indo Pacific Endeavour 2021 (IPE21), Australia´s flagship regional engagement activity to reflect its steadfast support for a peaceful, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN at its core.
Since late-August, the IPE21 task group has engaged in a program of mutually supportive at-sea activities, training programs and capacity building with several partners in the region.
The three-month deployment involves around 700 people, including Australian defense and civilian personnel and participants from partner nations. These include Captain Constancio Reyes from the Philippine Navy, who is serving as IPE21´s Deputy Commander.
While modified Covid-19 conditions have required a contactless port visit, Australia and the Philippines will conduct seminars, workshops and other virtual exchanges on important regional issues such as maritime security, women, peace and security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during the IPE21 task group´s time in Manila, according to an announcement by the Australian embassy in Manila.
The port visit follows the holding of the bilateral Australia-Philippines at-sea naval Exercise Lumbas, on September 25. During Exercise Lumbas, Australian and Filipino vessels conducted a series of maneuvers at sea before sailing into Manila together this morning. The exercise focused on high-end training and interoperability to benefit both nations in increased maritime domain awareness and force generation.
“Australia is very pleased to have IPE21 in the Philippines, and welcome Philippine Navy Capt Reyes as IPE21’s Deputy Commander. This visit reflects the spirit of mateship and bayanihan during our 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations. It also demonstrates the increasing mutual trust and cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson AO.
He added, “It is part of our robust and longstanding engagement with the Philippines to promote a secure, open, prosperous, and resilient region.”
Meanwhile, Commander of the IPE21 Task Group, Commodore Mal Wise, stated “We value this opportunity to work with our friends and partners in the region to enhance our interoperability, improve our coordination, and reinforce our shared commitment to a stable region.”
Image courtesy of LSIS Nadav Harel