PH, US, Canada conduct 20th maritime exercise in Sulu Sea

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 16, 2026

Photo courtesy: Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippines, United States and Canada have stepped up maritime cooperation through a two-day multilateral exercise in the Sulu Sea involving naval vessels and military aircraft.

The 20th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) was conducted on September 12 and 13 within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, with participating forces carrying out exercises aimed at improving interoperability, maritime security, information-sharing and coordination at sea.

The Philippines deployed the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-7), a W-3A Sokol search-and-rescue aircraft and an S-70i Black Hawk helicopter, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Philippine Coast Guard also joined the activity with the BRP Suluan, while Canada deployed the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Regina. The United States participated with a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The exercise included communications drills, ship maneuvering and maritime domain awareness activities designed to improve how the three countries operate and share information at sea.

The AFP said the activity strengthened the participating forces’ ability to work together while improving their shared understanding of maritime activities in the region.

The US military separately described the September exercise as the 11th maritime cooperative activity conducted in 2026, highlighting the increasingly regular maritime engagements between the Philippines and its partners.

Growing maritime cooperation

The latest exercise forms part of a broader series of maritime cooperative activities involving the Philippines and partner countries.

The first MMCA was conducted in the West Philippine Sea on April 7, 2024, involving forces from the Philippines, United States and Australia. Since then, the exercises have expanded to include other partners and a wider range of maritime and air capabilities.

Previous activities have included search-and-rescue exercises, maritime domain awareness operations, ship maneuvering and other drills intended to strengthen interoperability among participating forces.

The AFP said the latest Sulu Sea activity underscores the Philippines’ continuing effort to strengthen partnerships and collective maritime capabilities in support of a secure and rules-based maritime environment.