MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States successfully completed a joint maritime exercise on Friday, March 20, 2026, focused on enhancing regional security and interoperability. The exercise, officially designated as Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) 26-3.1, took place in the waters of Manila Bay and off the coast of Mariveles, Bataan.
The drills featured a combination of naval and aerial assets from both nations:
- Philippines: The Navy’s missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FFG-15) and the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301). Aerial support included two A-29B Super Tucano aircraft, a C-208B transport plane, and a Sokol search and rescue helicopter.
- United States: The USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), the sophisticated flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet and the largest forward-deployed command ship in the U.S. Navy.
According to AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the exercise aimed to:
- Improve Coordination: Streamlining communication and tactical movement between the Philippine Navy, PCG, and the U.S. Navy.
- Maritime Security Readiness: Strengthening the response capabilities for operations in Philippine territorial waters.
- Interoperability: Crews conducted coordinated maneuvers and communication checks to ensure seamless cooperation during real-world maritime scenarios.
The maritime exercise followed a five-day port call by the USS Blue Ridge in Manila (March 16–20).
- High-Level Meetings: Vice Adm. Patrick Hannifin, Seventh Fleet commander, met with top Philippine defense leaders, including Navy Chief Vice Adm. Jose Maria Ambrosio Ezpeleta and Coast Guard Chief Adm. Ronnie Gavan.
- Fil-Am Connection: The USS Blue Ridge carries a notable crew of over 100 Filipino-American sailors, highlighting the deep personal and cultural ties between the two militaries.
- Honorary Tributes: Vice Adm. Hannifin also laid a wreath at the Manila American Cemetery in Taguig to honor the nearly 17,000 soldiers who died during WWII.
This exercise marks the 11th bilateral MCA and the first major engagement of 2026 between the two nations’ naval forces. It follows a similar activity in the West Philippine Sea in January. The U.S. Seventh Fleet emphasized that these drills are conducted in accordance with international law to uphold “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the Indo-Pacific.