PH coast guard kicks off first-ever drills with US, Japan

MANILA, Philippines — The first-ever trilateral maritime exercise between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and its counterparts in the United States and Japan kicked off Thursday.

In an opening ceremony of the drills dubbed as “PCG-JCG-USCG Kaagapay Trilateral Exercise 2023” in Port Area, Manila, the PCG welcomed the arrival of a third legend-class United States Coast Guard (USCG) cutter called USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) and the Akitsushima (PLH-32) vessel of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG).

During the exercise, the PCG will deploy BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), and one 44-meter multi-role response vessel.

Personnel from the Coast Guards of said countries will engage in the first ever group of trilateral activities at sea and in port during a multi-day visit.

These activities have to do with maritime law enforcement, maritime security, maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection.

This exercise, the PCG said, will “strengthen [the] inter-operability” of the three countries’ coast guards.

For their part, the US Coast Guard said these activities will provide “invaluable opportunities” to bolster global maritime governance through professional exchanges and combined operations.

“Together we’ll demonstrate professional, rules-based standards of maritime operations with our steadfast partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Brian Krautler, Commanding Officer of USCG’s Stratton in a statement.

Captains of JCG’s Akitsushima and PCG’s MRRV 9702 named Captain Toru Imai and Capt. Antonio Sontillanosa, respectively, attended the event.

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TAGS: coast guard, Japan, Philippines, United States