TINIYAK kahapon ng United States Navy na gagawa sila ng paraan para magtuloy-tuloy ang kanilang paglalayag kasama ang mga kaalyadong bansa gaya ng Pilipinas, upang isulong ang kahalagahan ng professional maritime operation at pagtiyak sa seguridad at freedom of navigation sa Indo-Pacific Region.

“U.S. 7th Fleet will continue to find opportunities to sail alongside our allies and partners and reinforce the importance of professional maritime operations at sea anywhere international law allows. Our U.S.-Philippines alliance remains vital to Indo-Pacific security and stability in the region,” ayon kay Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.

Ang U.S. 7th Fleet ang pinakamalaking U.S. Navy forward-deployed fleet ng warships at aircraft carriers.

Kinumpirma ng U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs na nagkaroon ng bilateral sail ang kanilang U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) at Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) sa South China Sea nitong Setyembre 4, para linangin ang kakayahan at interoperability sa pagitan ng dalawang hukbong dagat.

Sa ibinahaging pahayag kahapon ng U.S. Embassy in Manila mula sa U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs, nakumpleto nila habang naglalayag ang dalawang barkong pandigma, ang division tactics (DIVTACS), isang pagsasanay na dinisenyo para matutunan ng ship handlers ang maneuvering sa loob ng close proximity o malapit sa ibang sea vessel para mapalakas ang kumpiyansa ng mga marinong nasa bridge teams para masanay sa mas challenging sailing conditions.

Kinumpirma rin ni Armed Forces of the Philippine Public Information Office chief, Col. Enrico Gil Ileto ang ginagawang bilateral sail ng Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) at US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), sa West Philippine Sea.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)