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Philippines, U.S. conduct bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity

27 January 2026

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. Navy conducted a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, demonstrating a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Jan. 25-26, 2026.
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U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) wave at the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 26, 2026) — U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) wave at the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026. The U.S. Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. John Finn is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban)
U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) wave at the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026.
Sailors aboard the USS John Finn conduct Maritime Cooperative Ac
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 26, 2026) — U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) wave at the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026. The U.S. Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. John Finn is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban)
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Photo By: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban
VIRIN: 260126-N-CV021-1052


MCAs are conducted in a manner consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety, navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.

This MCA continues to build on interoperability between the AFP and U.S. Navy through maneuver exercises, replenishment-at-sea evolutions, communications checks, and shared maritime domain awareness.

Participating units included U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113), P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45, Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), Philippine Air Force FA-50 aircraft, A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, and Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) with embarked AW109.

U.S. Navy Ensign Anna Drinkert measures the distance between Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) and Philippine Coast Guard Gabriela Silang-class frigate BRP Gabriela Silang (8301) during a replenishment-at-sea drill during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 25, 2026.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 25, 2026) — U.S. Navy Ensign Anna Drinkert measures the distance between Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) and Philippine Coast Guard Gabriela Silang-class frigate BRP Gabriela Silang (8301) during a replenishment-at-sea drill during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 25, 2026. The U.S Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. John Finn is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban)
U.S. Navy Ensign Thara Venkateswaran reads flag signals aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) during a flag hoist drill with Philippine Coast Guard Gabriela Silang-class frigate BRP Gabriela Silang (8301) and Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 25, 2026.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 25, 2026) — U.S. Navy Ensign Thara Venkateswaran reads flag signals aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) during a flag hoist drill with Philippine Coast Guard Gabriela Silang-class frigate BRP Gabriela Silang (8301) and Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 25, 2026. The U.S Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. John Finn is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban)
U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) sails in formation with Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 26, 2026) — U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) sails in formation with Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) during the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Jan. 26, 2026. The U.S. Navy routinely operates with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and partners and allies through MCAs to continually develop, exercise and enhance multi-domain tactical interoperability to uphold peace and security in the region. John Finn is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandria Esteban)

The U.S., along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to the maritime rights under international law.  

U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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