Readout: Pacific Fleet commander’s travel to Republic of the Philippines May 19-21

28 May 2024

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to the Republic of the Philippines, May 19-21, 2024 to reaffirm the steadfast and enduring U.S.-Philippine alliance which is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region during a meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 19, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

During his visit to the Philippines, Koehler met with senior Armed Forces of the Philippines officials to discuss the importance of the two countries’ bilateral relationship in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meetings in Manila and Palawan included:

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy, Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr.
Vice Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy, Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia
Western Command Commander, Rear Adm. Alfonso Torres Jr.
Western Command Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. Romulo D. Quemado

Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), left, and Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, conduct a pass-in-review of members of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 19, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), right, conduct a pass-in-review of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 19, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), right, salute members of the AFP following a meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 19, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, front left, and senior leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conduct a pass-in-review of members of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 19, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Brig. Gen. Romulo Quemado, deputy commander, Western Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, May 21, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Brig. Gen. Romulo Quemado, deputy commander, Western Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, salute sideboys during a meeting at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, May 21, 2024. The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with the Honorable MaryKay L. Carlson, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, in Manila, Philippines to underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy)

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with the Honorable Mark McGovern, consul general, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, in Manila, Philippines to underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy)

While in Manila, Koehler met with U.S. Embassy officials to include:

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, Hon. MaryKay Carlson
U.S. Embassy Consul General Mark McGovern

SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 21, 2024) Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, observes maritime activity in the South China Sea during a reconnaissance flight onboard a U.S. Navy P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4). VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 21, 2024) U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Donald Davis observes U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft operations with Sailors assigned to Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) during a reconnaissance flight in the South China Sea. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Manila, Philippines (May 21, 2024) U.S. Navy Naval Aircrewman Operator 2nd Class Walter Neumeister from Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) demonstrates U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft system functions to Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, while viewing a P-8A Poseidon aircraft aboard Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Manila, Philippines (May 21, 2024) U.S. Navy Naval Aircrewman Operator 2nd Class Walter Neumeister, assigned to Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4), demonstrates U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft system functions to Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet while viewing a P-8A Poseidon aircraft aboard Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Manila, Philippines (May 21, 2024) Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks with Sailors from Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) while preparing to participate in a reconnaissance flight aboard a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Manila, Philippines (May 21, 2024) Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, Pacific Fleet, center, Fleet Master Chief Donald Davis, Pacific Fleet, left, and Capt. Zachary Stang, commodore, Task Force 72, discuss U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft operations with Aircrewman Operator 2nd Class Kimberly Robertson from Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) while viewing a P-8A aircraft aboard Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Manila, Philippines (May 21, 2024) Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Fleet Master Chief Donald Davis, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Capt. Zachary Stang, commodore, Task Force 72, pose with the crew of a U.S. Navy P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines. VP-4, homeported out of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Andy Anderson)

Koehler also participated in a reconnaissance flight over the South China Sea aboard a P-8A Poseidon assigned to the “Skinny Dragons” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 to observe the full range of a Poseidon’s capabilities. Koehler witnessed firsthand maritime areas in the South China Sea to include the Spratly Islands where the PRC has continued to assert excessive claims.

The visit to the Philippines underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.