Italian Navy delegation shares best practices with PH

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 6, 2024): Italian Navy delegation shares best practices with PH (By Priam Nepomuceno)

FRUITFUL EXCHANGE. Naval Reserve Command deputy commander, Commodore Lemuel Espartinez (right) speaks with Italian Navy Fleet Air Arm commander, Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina during their meeting at the Philippine Navy Headquarters in Manila on Thursday (Sept. 5, 2024). The Italian delegation will also showcase its culture, traditions, technology and research through best practice sharing. (Photo courtesy of PH Navy)

MANILA – An Italian Navy carrier strike group has shared its best practices to the Philippine Navy (PN), which is now in the process of developing its naval aviation capabilities.

The PN welcomed the Italian delegation, led by Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina, during their visit to the Navy headquarters in Manila on Thursday, according to the PN's media release on Friday.

A carrier strike group is a flexible naval force that can operate in confined waters or in the open ocean, day and night and in all weather conditions.

They were formally welcomed by Naval Reserve Command deputy commander, Commodore Lemuel Espartinez.

“Let me thank you for the great hospitality that your Navy has shown to us and the friendship. It is a privilege to be here,” Ciappina, who is also the commander of the Italian Navy's Fleet Air Arm, said.

The Italian carrier strike group consisting of the aircraft carrier, ITS Cavour, and its escorting frigate, ITS Alpino, arrived in Manila for a goodwill visit on Sept. 2.

Part of the visitors’ mission is to showcase Italian culture, traditions, technology and research through best practice sharing with the PN.

“It is always a pleasure for the PN to host other like-minded navies and other like-minded Armed Forces who are here for a visit. We look forward to your visits again and our future cooperation with the Italian Navy,” Espartinez told the guests.

Through the visit of the Italian Navy, the PN reaffirms its role as a modern and multi-capable force that is ready to collaborate with international partners.

Teodoro meets with Polish top envoy

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also welcomed Poland Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sept. 4.

This visit aims to discuss potential initiatives to advance bilateral defense relations between the two nations.

"Following the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Poland in 2023, Secretary Teodoro highlighted the common values and shared sentiments of both countries towards upholding a rules-based international order," the DND said in a statement Friday.

In response, Sikorski emphasized Poland's interest in cooperating with like-minded countries such as the Philippines in the field of defense.

The Polish official highlighted Poland's shift in prioritizing its national defense spending, which is about 4.3 to 4.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Given the substantial progress of bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and Poland, specifically the delivery of the first batch of S-701 Black Hawk combat utility helicopters, which are enhancing the operational capacity of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the two officials explored prospects of cooperation beyond procurement.

These include exchanges of information and experts in combatting disinformation, emerging and disruptive technologies, hybrid warfare, and cyber security.

The PAF procured an initial 16 Black Hawk helicopters from Poland in 2020, delivered from 2020 to 2021.

"The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepen defense cooperation through the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding concerning the development of bilateral relations on defense, and working towards more interactions in advancing defense collaboration for the mutual benefit of the Philippines and Poland," the DND added. (PNA)