Australian and Philippine military personnel strengthened their bonds during recent exercises, demonstrating the nations’ increasingly robust defense relations.
For the first time, Philippine fighter pilots participated in the biennial Australia-led Pitch Black exercise in Darwin, Australia. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed four FA-50PH fighter jets and a C-130 tactical transport plane along with 162 personnel for the exercise, which runs from July 12 to August 2. The AFP previously sent observers to the exercise. Pitch Black 2024 assembled forces from 20 nations.
“Enhanced defense cooperation between the Philippines and Australia addresses common security challenges and threats in the Indo-Pacific region by bolstering territorial defense through combined training, intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told FORUM. “By leveraging each other’s strengths and fostering a unified approach, this partnership ensures a more robust and resilient defense posture, contributing to regional stability and security.”
The Philippines participation comes amid ongoing tensions over the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea, including within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
Australian and Philippine forces also conducted the annual Kasangga (Partnership) exercise in May and June 2024 in northern Luzon, Philippines. About 100 troops from the Philippine Army’s 86th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, and 50 personnel from the 1st Battalion of the Australian Army’s Royal Australian Regiment trained at venues within the jurisdiction of the 5th Infantry Division’s Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.
The nations’ Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) allows their forces to train in each other’s territory. Australian and Philippine personnel have trained more closely, especially on urban operations and counterterrorism, since Islamic State group-affiliated militants attacked Marawi City in the southern Philippines in 2017. In recent years, the nations also have conducted maritime exercises and patrols together and with other partners.
At Kasangga, the two armies shared techniques, tactics and procedures in jungle, urban and breaching operations, tactical casualty care, jungle survival training, mortar and drone operations, logistics, signal operations, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. They also exchanged operational experiences in countering and defeating terrorist groups and external security threats, Dema-ala said.
Australian personnel were deployed as part of the Joint Australian Training Team–Philippines, which was created to support engagement with the AFP to increase interoperability and deepen people-to-people links.
Activities included integrated training for territorial defense operations.
“We adjusted the mortar live-fire training to benefit and improve the skills of the Philippine Army to employ mortars for territorial defense and integrate with the Australian Army to operate in the region,” Australian Army Lt. Peter Kuschert said in a statement.
Canberra and Manila have three security agreements in addition to the SOVFA: a 1995 memorandum of understanding on cooperative defense activities, the 2015 Comprehensive Partnership Agreement and the 2021 Mutual Logistics Agreement.
The nations’ growing partnership “strengthens broader defense relationships within the Indo-Pacific region by demonstrating a united front committed to regional security and stability,” Dema-ala said. “It sends a clear message that Australia and the Philippines are dedicated to upholding international law, deterring aggression and promoting peace, thereby contributing to a balanced power dynamic and fostering a cooperative security environment in the Indo-Pacific.”
