Philippines to enhance maritime security cooperation with India

Asia-Pacific, News August 28, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The delegation of the Philippine Coast Guard visited New Delhi to meet their Indian counterparts. The two sides signed an agreement to increase joint maritime security efforts in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

The five-member high-level delegation of the Philippines Coast Guard was led by Admiral Artemio Manalo Abu. The delegation met with the Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU), underlining the mutual maritime cooperation between the two countries. The two organizations vowed to share best practices as well as conduct joint exercises and training drills.

The MoU specifically aims to “enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR).”

The agreement also calls for enhancing cooperation between the coast guards through a “White Shipping Agreement.” This agreement allows for the transfer of information on maritime traffic between the two forces.

India has signed white shipping agreements with several countries including the United States and Singapore and is seeking similar agreements with more countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines delegation also met with Indian Defense Secretary Shri. Giridhar Aramane on the same day.

Philippines Coast Guard and Indian Navy signed SOP — ^{The Philippines Coast Guard and Indian Navy signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the exchange of White Shipping Information in New Delhi, India, on August 23, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter/Philippine Coast Guard)}

Before meeting with their counterparts in New Delhi, the delegation visited the Indian city of Goa where they witnessed the operational capabilities of India’s indigenously produced ships and aircraft, including that of the Indian Coast Guard Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) MK-III. Analysts believe that the Philippines is eyeing purchasing the Indian-made MK-III helicopters.

Developed and manufactured by India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the MK-III helicopters are also known as HAL Dhruv. The helicopters are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment which includes modern surveillance radar and electro-optical sensors. It is powered by HAL-made Shakti engines and full-glass cockpits, high-intensity searchlights, advanced communication systems, an automatic identification system as well as a search-and-rescue homer.

These features make these helicopters an ideal choice for a low-budget search and rescue helicopter and enable it to undertake maritime reconnaissance as well as carry out search and rescue at extended ranges while operating from ships, both during day and night.

Defense cooperation between the Philippines and India has been flourishing especially due to the increasing tension in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, the Philippines Army agreed to purchase Indian-made Brahmos anti-ship cruise missiles for its coastal defense. The missile has a range of about 290 kilometers (180 miles) and it can reach the speed of Mach 2.8, almost three times the speed of sound.