The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command conducted their sixth Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) in strategic waters off Occidental Mindoro and neighboring Palawan, strengthening maritime security in a place considered vital to Philippine national defense.

The joint exercises centered on Mindoro’s critical waters featured Philippine naval vessels BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Domingo Deluana alongside U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The Philippine contingent also included an AW109 naval helicopter, Air Force Super Tucano aircraft, Sokol helicopters, and coast guard vessels BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua.

Occidental Mindoro holds strategic importance due to its position guarding the eastern entrance to the Mindoro Strait, a critical sea lane connecting the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) to the Sulu Sea.

Military analysts note that control of these waters is essential for monitoring maritime traffic between international waters and the Philippine archipelago’s interior seas.

“Mindoro’s strategic location makes it a natural chokepoint for maritime defense,” said a security analyst familiar with the region. “These waters provide a crucial buffer zone for Metro Manila (NCR) region and serve as a gateway to the country’s central islands.”

The military exercise represents the first time the Philippine Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard have participated together in these bilateral exercises, signaling a new approach to maritime security cooperation between the longtime allies.

“As the Philippines continues to navigate evolving maritime challenges, joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the AFP’s commitment to modernizing its capabilities and strengthening defense partnerships,” said AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr.

The maritime drills come amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where the country has faced increasing encounters with Chinese vessels near disputed features.

The United States has repeatedly affirmed its mutual defense commitments to the Philippines, which date back to their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

photos courtesy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines