A multi-national task force from Europe will, for the first time, sail to the Indo-Pacific region to affirm its backing of the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, revealed that the group consists of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH, the official revealed that NATO’s deployment will include an aircraft carrier from Britain.
However, when asked whether it would participate in maritime cooperative activities or joint sails with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Trinidad declined to comment on any planned operations.
Trinidad pointed out that this underscores the AFP’s effective approach in accepting support from the global community to ensure order in the area under dispute.
"It’s the first time a multi-national task force sent out an aircraft carrier, mula sa Europa ang pupunta sa Indo-Pacific," said Trinidad.
"Dati rati, isang bansa lang nagpapadala dito. Ngayon, isang multi-national task force," he added.
The high-ranking naval official reiterated that China notably refrains from harassment whenever other countries maintain a presence in the sea.
