Navy, PCG ships depart for world’s largest maritime war games

SUBIC, Zambales, June 5 ------ The Philippines dispatched navy and coast guard vessels to Hawaii for Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2026, the world’s largest multinational maritime warfare exercise.

In Zambales, BRP Miguel Malvar, the Philippine Navy’s newest and most heavily armed class of guided-missile corvettes, set sail with at least 138 personnel aboard. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sent off its offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang in a separate ceremony in Manila. This is the first time the PCG is participating in the biennial international exercise.

The two Philippine ships will sail alongside contingents from Singapore and India while heading to Guam. From there, Japan, South Korea, and Italy will also join. The massive multinational event runs from June 24 to July 31 in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

Among the capabilities to be demonstrated are amphibious operations, anti-submarine warfare, missile firings, humanitarian assistance, and mine clearance. “This event is very significant to the Philippine Navy because, through this exercise, we are able to strengthen relationships, not only with our allied partners, but also strategic partners and the navies in the Asian region,” Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Arlene Martinez said. “We will also be able to enhance our interoperability with them to work together. And most importantly, this is our commitment to regional peace and stability,” Martinez added.

On the PCG’s part, its personnel are expected to learn procedures, tactics, and techniques related to patrol operations, communications at sea, and maritime law enforcement. “The PCG contingent will join more than 30 partner nations in advancing maritime cooperation, operational interoperability, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime law enforcement, and regional maritime security,” the PCG said in a statement. “The simultaneous send-off ceremonies highlighted the strong partnership and unified commitment of the country’s maritime services in promoting peace, stability, and cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region. It likewise reflects the growing role of the PCG in multinational maritime engagements and international defense and security cooperation,” it added.

Martinez highlighted the importance of participation in RIMPAC in the face of China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. “Because we do not work alone; so we work as a group, like we work as a surface action group, we will work also jointly. And the competencies that will be learned here would help in our being operationally ready,” Martinez said.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com