In a powerful show of regional unity and maritime cooperation, the Royal Australian Navy, Philippine Navy, and the United States Armed Forces conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this week.
The joint exercise brought together Australia’s HMAS Sydney, a guided-missile destroyer, and the Philippines’ BRP Antonio Luna, a state-of-the-art guided-missile frigate, supported by aerial assets from both the Philippines and the U.S. The MCA aimed to bolster joint readiness and interoperability amidst growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
This trilateral maritime drill reflects a collective commitment to defending international maritime rights, such as freedom of navigation and overflight, especially under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The exercises included tactical maneuvers, communication drills, and combined operational scenarios, sharpening the participating forces' ability to act cohesively in real-world maritime contingencies. Such training is especially timely given escalating tensions in key strategic sea lanes, including the South China Sea.
This marks the second MCA involving the Australian Defence Force in 2025, with the first conducted in February alongside Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. The latest deployment is part of Australia’s three-month Regional Presence Deployment, demonstrating Canberra’s resolve to maintain a consistent naval footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
"These cooperative activities are more than symbolic—they are strategic in purpose, reinforcing the rules-based order and ensuring regional maritime stability," a defense analyst noted.
By deepening naval ties and standardizing operational tactics, the three nations are sending a clear message: they stand united in supporting a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
