PH maritime security gets boost from France, India, Australia
The Philippines continues to see the results of its expanded network of security partnerships with like-minded countries amid recurring tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In the past two weeks, the Philippine Navy conducted back-to-back maritime drills with French and Indian naval forces, while Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers received specialized training on drone operations from Australia.
In Mindanao, Joint Task Force Sinaya and a French Navy frigate held a three-day bilateral maritime activity from Wednesday to Friday, as the French vessel transited Philippine archipelagic waters, according to a Navy statement on Friday.
The drills formally opened on Thursday in waters south of Balut Island in Sarangani and continued off Davao Oriental. The Navy deployed the BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) and an aircraft with tail number NV392 for exercises with the visiting French ship.
Separately, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Indian Armed Forces completed the second Philippines-India Maritime Cooperative Activity on Nov. 26 in the WPS.
The AFP deployed the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), FA-50 fighter jets and a W-3A Sokol helicopter, while India fielded the INS Sahyadri, a guided-missile frigate with an embarked helicopter.
The two sides conducted communication and flag-hoist drills, Officer-of-the-Watch maneuvers, and a photo exercise featuring a low pass by Philippine FA-50s. The activity concluded with a passing exercise symbolizing continued defense cooperation between Manila and New Delhi.
The AFP said the maritime activity reinforces both nations’ commitment to a rules-based regional order and aims to boost readiness for potential contingencies at sea.
Drone training
Australia, meanwhile, has delivered the second tranche of drone operator training to 10 PCG Aviation Command officers from Nov. 17 to Nov. 21, the Australian Embassy said in a statement on Friday.
The PCG officers traveled to Melbourne for specialized training on the Australian SYPAQ fixed-wing drone.
The program, conducted in partnership with Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and SYPAQ Systems, included both classroom and field exercises and was designed as a “train-the-trainer” initiative to enhance the PCG’s own training capabilities.
Then from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28, Australian experts visited Laguna, to provide hands-on training to 30 PCG officers in daytime and nighttime drone operations, as well as maintenance.
“This training is another example of Australia’s steadfast commitment to supporting PCG’s maritime domain awareness capabilities and modernisation agenda,” said Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the program helps “strengthen our service and contribute to global maritime security efforts.”
The training follows the delivery of P36 million worth of drones and associated training in April 2025. It is part of Australia’s commitment to provide up to P110 million in additional drones and other unmanned maritime technologies, announced in July 2025 on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Australia’s civil maritime assistance also includes vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational equipment and training, marine protection and biannual Law of the Sea courses.
