Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava held an “introductory” meeting on Tuesday as Filipino and American Marines kicked off their war games with the participation of Japanese forces.
The defense chief welcomed Variava to the Philippines where both countries later reaffirmed their commitment to the security alliance through the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) during a meeting.
“Both sides exchanged views on recent developments in the region, and covered discussions on how to further enhance the cooperation between the Philippines and the US,” the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement released by spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong.
“They also discussed updates on upcoming bilateral defense activities, logistics cooperation, particularly on the capability upgrades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP], and the way ahead for the Philippines-US defense relations,” Andolong added.
Andolong said Lorenzana expressed his appreciation for the US support to the country’s efforts in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in facilitating the continued delivery of vaccines in support to the Philippines’s national immunization program.
‘KAMANDAG 5-21’
Meanwhile, the “KAMANDAG 5-21,” the Philippine Marines’ joint and combined interoperability exercise with the US Marine Corps (USMC) and Japanese forces began on Wednesday, with fictional counterterrorism and internal security operations among its scope.
The KAMANDAG or “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma mula sa Dagat,” an annual training exercises under the MDT, is aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and interoperability between US Forces and other partner-nations and strengthen allied countries’ readiness to respond to crises in the region.
Marine spokesman Major Emery Torre said the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) again decided to join the exercise wherein it shares its humanitarian aid and disaster response (HADR) capability.
Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Major Gen. Ariel Caculitan said the eight-day exercise should enhance their core competency as a national amphibious maneuver force and solidify the “Archipelagic Coastal Defense concept.”
The counterterrorism exercise, which simulates special operations in defending and taking of an island, will be held at Corregidor, while the “Coastal Defense” training has been scheduled in Cagayan.
Torre said a “Staff Integration Activity” would also be held in Palawan in order to improve the interoperability planning process with other foreign allied forces in the context of “territorial and coastal defense.”
Capt. Benjamin Yoder, Communication Strategy and Operations Officer of the 3rd Marine Division, USMC, stressed the significance of reinforcing the decades-long alliance.
“The US Marine-Fleet values these partnerships and is excited to exercise multilateral integration with our friend and allies both here in the Philippines and Japan. While our physical presence is limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the scope of this exercise remains significant with US Marines participating on both Philippine and Japanese soil,” he said.
Maj. Yasutomo Kamiakito, commander of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, JGSDF, underscored the importance of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response.
“Both Japan and the Philippines suffer from common natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and flood almost every year. It is important for both countries to do HADR exercises to improve capabilities and share knowledge,” he said.