The Australian guided-missile frigate HMAS Toowoomba arrived at Naval Operating Base Subic on February 13 for a four-day port visit aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Australia.
The visit, which concludes on February 16, comes as the two nations continue to deepen defense ties under their Strategic Partnership.
Philippine Fleet commander Rear Adm. Joe Anthony Orbe welcomed the vessel and held talks with the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. James Michael, to discuss shared security priorities in the Indo-Pacific.
During the stay, personnel from the Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy are participating in subject-matter expert exchanges.
These sessions focus on critical naval capabilities, including seaworthiness and replenishment at sea—essential skills for conducting prolonged and complex maritime operations.
Military officials stated that the port call also serves as a preparatory engagement for “Exercise Kakadu 2026,” a major biennial multinational maritime exercise hosted by Australia.
The Philippine Navy recently confirmed it would deploy a Miguel Malvar-class frigate to the 2026 drills, marking its first participation in the exercise in seven years.
The visit follows a series of joint activities between the two countries, including multilateral maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea conducted last October alongside the United States and New Zealand.
The HMAS Toowoomba’s presence underscores a growing trend of bilateral cooperation.
Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown recently noted that the defense relationship has reached “exciting levels,” with Canberra funding various infrastructure projects across Philippine military bases to boost regional stability and maritime security.