PHILIPPINES, ITALY KEEN ON FURTHER ENHANCING DEFENSE, SECURITY TIES

strike was to happen just a day after the country marked the seventh anniversary of the UN arbitral award, which threw out Beijing’s excessive claims over the WPS. It also occurs in the aftermath of the government’s report on the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels in two features located in the country’s exclusive economic zone on the western portion of the South China Sea.

The SINKEX was the second for the joint training Filipino and American forces this year after the decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette BRP Pangasinan was also sunk during the Balikatan exercise held in April.

The MASA is a semiannual exercise between the US and the Philippines that is focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts.

For this year, its training activities include live fire events, bilateral air assaults and airfield seizures, joint forward arming and refueling and other aviation support operations.

Over the weekend, members of the Force Reconnaissance Group of the PMC and the USMC, who were joined by the Pararescue Jumpers of the 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th Special Operations Wing of the United States Air Force Special

The activities were made to increase “tactical-level lethality” through the application of expeditionary air base operations, tactical combat casualty care, combat assault transport and military techniques, tactics and procedures.

Meanwhile, the PAF said its forces also trained and held the alternate insertion and extrication (AIE) and search and rescue exercises (SAREX) last week with the USAF in Palaui Island in Sta. Ana, Cagayan in the ongoing Cope Thunder.

“The exercise scenarios simulated reallife situations, enabling military personnel to develop and practice their search and rescue techniques, communication protocols and decision-making skills under realistic conditions,” said PAF spokesperson Ma. Consuelo Castillo.

“It also provided a platform for the aircrew and ground personnel of the two air forces to refine their skills, test their equipment and strengthen their teamwork,” she added.

Early this week, both air forces left Pampanga for Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu for the continuation of the Cope Thunder in the Visayas, tagging along an FA-50, two A-29B Super Tucano and five A-10 Warthogs for the war games.

Castillo said the aircraft would perform various air operations exercises over areas in Mactan and General Santos City.

THE Philippines and Italy are both interested in further enhancing their defense relations in the interest of global peace and freedom.

This was after Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. received the Italian delegation led by Ambassador Marco Clemente and visiting Deputy Defense Minister Perego di Cremnago during their courtesy visit on July 11.

“Both maritime nations looked forward to enhancing the defense partnership between the Philippines and Italy as both countries share interest in global peace and the freedoms guaranteed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS],” said DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a statement issued on Thursday.

Both nations also noted the seventh anniversary of the South China Sea (SCS) Arbitration Award on July 12, 2016, which upholds the primacy of the UNCLOS as the law of the sea, and for which Italy, among other states, has expressed firm support.

The DND chief also stressed the significance of broad international recognition of and support for the Arbitral Award, which would be beneficial for all countries.

“Further to cooperation in terms of acquisition of hard assets, Secretary Teodoro emphasized the importance of laying down a framework for defense cooperation, which will help build a foundation for resilience against future security challenges and also cover the enhancement of personnel capacities, including in the areas of maritime domain and the law of the sea,” Andolong said.

The Italian defense official’s visit to Manila coincided with the four-day goodwill visit of the Italian offshore patrol vessel Francesco Morosini which took place from July 8 to 11.

The Francesco Morosini is one of the Italian Navy’s latest and most advanced multipurpose offshore patrol vessels.

“The Morosini is in the region to promote naval diplomacy and freedom of navigation in the SCS [South China Sea]. The Deputy Minister’s visit as well as that of the Morosini signal Italy’s keen interest in fostering closer relations with the Philippines,” Andolong said.

Also on July 11, Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año met a delegation from the US Business Executives for National Security (BENS) led by its president and CEO, retired American Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, and accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay L. Carlson.

BENS is exploring investment opportunities in support of common national security objectives.

“During the meeting, both Philippine security officials welcomed US investments that align with the Philippines’ national security priorities and seek to foster an environment conducive to mutually beneficial collaborations,” Andolong said.

Teodoro underscored three priority areas for the defense sector, specifically the implementation of the Philippines’ SelfReliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Program; reorganization of the Defense Department; and the creation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Retirement Trust Fund.

“Secretary Teodoro emphasized the importance of partnerships with US investors to strengthen defense industries and develop advanced technologies, as well as contribute their expertise and collaborate with Philippine defense agencies to further enhance the overall defense capabilities of the Philippines,” Andolong said.

He added that this engagement between the Philippine security officials and BENS underscored the commitment to building strong partnerships and leveraging privatesector expertise to bolster the defense sector.

“The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation between the Philippines and the US, with the aim of advancing national security objectives and fostering a secure and prosperous future,” Andolong said. PNA