Responding to challenges

Colonel Nguyen Van Ngan, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4, Head of the working group, and Lieutenant Colonel Ma Nguyen Thanh, Captain of ship 015-Tran Hung Dao, attended the opening ceremony.

In his opening remarks, Brigadier General Edwin E. Amadar, Commander of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Force, Philippine Navy, and the exercise's chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of AMNEX-2 for ASEAN countries in fulfilling their shared commitments and acting together to address maritime security challenges. Brigadier General Edwin E. Amadar expressed his gratitude and confidence that the active participation of ASEAN navies in the exercise would contribute to promoting cooperation, ensuring the success of the event, and fostering future cooperation among ASEAN countries.

Colonel Vincent J. Sibala, Deputy Commander for Combat Operations of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Force, and Head of the Exercise Organizing Committee, welcomed the ASEAN navies participating in AMNEX-2; affirming that the upcoming days of sea exercises will provide many opportunities for mutual learning among the navies of the region. In the context of facing common challenges in maritime security, ASEAN countries should effectively utilize the opportunities at AMNEX-2 to act together, cooperate, enhance their response capabilities, and improve their professional competence.

AMNEX-2 aims to promote three main pillars: interoperability, responsiveness, and readiness to address the common concerns of countries sharing maritime borders.

Responding to a question from a Vietnamese reporter participating in the working group on Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao, Brigadier General Edwin E Amadar affirmed that the Philippines highly appreciates the participation of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries in the exercise; and wishes to work together with Vietnam and other countries in the region to enhance interoperability, readiness, and coordinated action to respond to challenges.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines, the captains expressed their hope that through AMNEX-2, the navies of the participating countries would foster good friendship, mutual understanding, and enhance interoperability and closer ties, for the sake of peace, cooperation, and stability in the region.

Participating in AMNEX-2 are naval vessels from the host country Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei. During the two-day sea phase on May 13th and 14th, the ships will practice the following areas: communication checks; aerial formation photography; maritime search and rescue; electronic decoding; light signals; nighttime formation maneuvers; helicopter landings on ships; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and maritime interdiction.

Text and photos: MY HANH ( from the Philippines)

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