PH Navy to join Australian exercises Aug. 31-Sept. 15
THE Philippine Navy will be participating for the third time in the Royal Australian Navy exercises this year, which 24 other navies across the world will join.
Commander Jonathan Zata, Navy spokesman, said the Philippines would be sending off a 300-man contingent aboard the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, one of the three del Pilar-class frigates, on Monday.
The Multilateral Regional Maritime Exercises, codenamed “Kakadu 2018,” will be from August 31 to September 15.
“It represents an opportunity for invited navies to participate in multinational maritime activities in a manner, which promotes greater levels of military cooperation and understanding amongst nations,” Zata said in a statement on Sunday.
He added that it would be the third time for the Philippine Navy to send its ship to join the drills, which began in 1993.
The first time the Navy sent its contingent was in 1999 while the most recent was in 2014, Zata said.
But in 2003, 2005 and 2007, the Philippines sent Navy observers for the exercises but missed sending a delegation in 2016.
Apart from the Philippines and Australia, 24 other countries will be involved in the exercises.
These are Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, the United States and Vietnam. DEMPSEY REYES
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