Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: Brawner: More countries eyeing joint sails with Philippines

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Brawner: More countries eyeing joint sails with Philippines

From ABS-CBN (Jul 2, 2024): Brawner: More countries eyeing joint sails with Philippines (By Pia Gutierrez)

JS Kirisame (DD-104), HMCS Montreal (FFH 336), sail alongside USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) during the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea on June 16. US Navy MC1 Jamaal Liddell/handout/file

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is open to mounting multilateral maritime cooperative activities (MMCA) or joint sails with more nations as it seeks to strengthen military cooperation with other countries and maintain peace and security in the region.

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AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner said a number of countries have expressed their intention to hold a joint sail with the Philippines following the recent MMCAs in the West Philippine Sea.

Last June, the Philippines held its second MMCA with Canada, Japan, and the United States in the WPS. This follows the first MMCA by the navies of United States, Australia, and Japan in April.

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“Sa mga susunod pang mga buwan ay may makikita pa tayong marami pang mga multilateral maritime cooperative activities,” Brawner said.

“And this time, pati na rin iyong mga bansa sa Europa ay gustong sumama; gustong sumama ng France, United Kingdom, ng Germany, pati na rin dito sa region natin iyong New Zealand also wants to join us. So welcome po lahat ito, lahat po ng mga bansang ito are welcome to join us in our joint sail," he added.

AFP MODERNIZATION

Meanwhile, Brawner said the Philippines has come a long way in modernizing its defense capabilities since the government started the AFP modernization program in 1995.

“Well, malayo na po iyong narating natin in terms of modernization,” Brawner said.

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“So natapos na po iyong Horizon 1. May mga kaunting programa lang na hindi pa natapos, even sa Horizon 2 but tuluy-tuloy naman po iyong ginagawa nating pag-procure ng mga kagamitan, pag-training, pag-ayos ng ating mga facilities.”

Brawner earlier noted that Horizon 3 of the AFP’s modernization program, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last January 2024, will focus on improving the military's archipelagic defense capabilities, by acquiring more ships, aircraft and radar systems.

“Kaya’t masayang-masaya po tayo doon sa mga nagagawa natin sa modernization. Pero kulang pa ho ito, kulang na kulang pa,” he said.

While Brawner said he could not go into details, the modernization program has allowed the AFP to upgrade its capabilities to effectively defend the country against invaders.

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“Hindi po natin puwedeng sabihin iyan para hindi alam ng ating mga competitors kung nasaan na tayo. But suffice to say, na kung mayroon pong gustong sumakop or pumunta, mag-invade sa atin ay talagang lalaban po tayo at siguradong masusugatan sila,” Brawner said.

These capabilities Brawner said were on full display during the recent Balikatan exercises, where the modern missile system of the Philippine naval ships were tested.

“So during the last Balikatan Exercise, na-testing po natin ito. Mayroon po tayong isang barko na luma na nilubog natin. So it wasn’t just firing, iyong mga missile systems natin but tinest po natin talaga kung kaya niyang palubugin iyong isang barko. So, kayang-kaya naman po!” he said.