Naval forces from the Philippines, Japan, and the United States concluded a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday, marking the 14th joint drill of its kind for 2026.
The six-day operation, running from October 19 to 24, focused heavily on logistics, maritime security, and emergency-response coordination, according to Philstar.com. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and United States Pacific Command participated in the 22nd Philippines-Japan-United States multilateral engagement.
PH, US, Japan complete 22nd maritime activity in WPSMANILA – Philippine, Japanese and United States (US) forces have completed their 22nd multilateral maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the maritime… pic.twitter.com/ucZsXN3oaY
Exercises throughout the week included communications drills, division tactics, photo exercises, deck landing qualifications, vertical replenishment, maritime domain awareness, and search and rescue serials. These drills were designed to refine shared specialized procedures and maritime doctrines across the allied forces.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed the BRP Miguel Malvar, alongside an AW109 helicopter, a C-208B aircraft, and a search and rescue aircraft. The Philippine Coast Guard also contributed the BRP Gabriela Silang to the operations.
Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Philippine Navy (PN), the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a Multilateral Exercise as a Maritime Cooperative Activity.
Meanwhile, United States Pacific Command mobilized the USCGC Bertholf and an MH-65 helicopter. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force rounded out the allied fleet by deploying the JS Kirisame and an SH-60K helicopter.
Expanding Bilateral Coast Guard Operations
The multilateral drills followed closely on the heels of bilateral maritime security engagements in the region. Earlier in the month, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard conducted a joint anti-piracy exercise near Corregidor Island, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported.
That mid-October drill involved the Japanese coast guard patrol vessel Shikishima, which arrived in Manila following its participation in the 24th Regional Marine Pollution Exercise in Bitung and Manado, Indonesia. Commodore Algier Ricafrente, director of the Coast Guard Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center, noted that the anti-piracy activity formed part of broader efforts to deepen regional cooperation and improve coordination between the two maritime agencies.
| Country | Participating Agency | Deployed Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Armed Forces & Coast Guard | BRP Miguel Malvar, BRP Gabriela Silang, AW109, C-208B, SAR Aircraft |
| United States | USPACOM | USCGC Bertholf, MH-65 Helicopter |
| Japan | JMSDF | JS Kirisame, SH-60K Helicopter |
The Shikishima departed Manila following the conclusion of the Corregidor exercise, paving the way for the broader trilateral drills that wrapped up on Saturday. These operations highlight efforts by Manila, Tokyo, and Washington to strengthen coordination and expand capabilities at sea.
22nd PH-JPN-US Maritime Cooperative Activity Concludes SuccessfullyThe Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) successfully conducted the 22nd PH-JPN-US Multilateral Maritime Cooperative… pic.twitter.com/9iY5552zA9
