The Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy reaffirmed their commitment to deeper maritime cooperation during the 9th Philippine Navy–Royal Australian Navy Navy-to-Navy Talks held in Sydney.
The bilateral discussions took place aboard the HMAS Adelaide and brought together senior naval officials from both countries to discuss future defense engagements, interoperability, and regional maritime security initiatives.
The meeting was co-chaired by Major General Edwin Amadar, vice commander of the Philippine Navy, and Rear Admiral Chris Smith, commander of the Australian Fleet.
Smith described the Navy-to-Navy Talks as an important platform for enhancing bilateral cooperation and supporting a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
He cited several recent engagements between the two navies, including the visit of the Australian Navy chief to the Philippines, participation in multilateral maritime activities, and the Philippine Navy’s involvement in Exercise Kakadu 2026 and the International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbor during the Royal Australian Navy’s 125th anniversary celebration.
He also expressed optimism over upcoming joint activities, including Exercise Lumbas 2026 scheduled for June.
For his part, Amadar highlighted the longstanding defense ties between the Philippines and Australia, tracing cooperation between the two navies back to World War II. He said the partnership has since evolved into a broader strategic relationship supported by agreements such as the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.
Amadar emphasized the importance of maritime security in maintaining peace and economic stability across the Indo-Pacific, adding that the Philippine Navy remains committed to working closely with allied and like-minded nations in addressing emerging maritime challenges.
He also said both sides are looking to finalize a broader defense cooperation framework, strengthen existing naval engagements, and hold the next Navy-to-Navy Talks in the Philippines in 2027.
The discussions included updates on bilateral activities conducted in 2025, review of previous agreements and action items, revisions to the terms of reference for the talks, and planning for future engagements in 2026.
As part of the visit, delegates toured HMAS Adelaide and later visited HMAS Watson, the Royal Australian Navy’s maritime warfare training facility.
Both navies said the successful talks reflected their shared commitment to expanding cooperation, improving interoperability, and promoting stability and security in the maritime domain.