Philippine Navy and U.S. Navy Commence Sama Sama 2024
Subic Bay, Philippines β The U.S. Navy, βU.S. βMarine Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippinesβ, and allied forces commenced the eighth iteration of Exercise Sama Sama in the vicinity of Subic Bay, the βRepublic of the βPhilippines, marking the beginning of two weeks of maritime engagements designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen security ties among regional partners, Oct. 7.
Sama Sama 2024, part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series, builds on the legacy of βprevious maritime βcollaborationβ,β βexpanding itsβ scope of operationsβ withββ both shore and sea phasesβ.β βParticipants βwill engage ββin specialized training across a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, legal operations, engineering, logistics, and public affairs. β
βThis exercise has evolved significantly since its inception. What began as a bilateral event between the United States and the Philippines has grown into a multilateral and multiplatform operation, bringing together like-minded partners from across the Indo-Pacific,β said the U.S. Head of Delegation, Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, Commander Logistics Western Pacific, and Task Force 73. βThis development highlights the strength of our alliances and our shared commitment to peace, security, and cooperation in the maritime domain and itβs never been more important.β
ββWorking alongside naval vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft, ββββspecialized teamsβ, including βdiving and explosive ordnance disposal unitsβ,ββ βwill conduct high-intensity drills focusing on anti-submarine warfareβ, βanti-βsurface warfareβ, βanti-βair warfareβ, and maritime domain awareness.
βSama Samaββ,β which means βtogethernessββ βin Tagalog, reflects ββthe spirit of the decades-long partnership between allies in the region. Sama Sama 2024, a Philippine-U.S. bilateral exercise with invited allied and partner participants, continues to evolve in both complexity and scope into a more sophisticated and multinational environment with each iteration.
This yearββsβ βexercise includes participants from βAustralia, Japan, Canada, Franceβ, andβ Japan, representing a collective βcommitment βto stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
βToday we witness the deepening of ties between the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Navy along with our partners from Australia, Canada, France, United Kingdom, and Japanβ said the Philippine Navy Head of Delegation, Rear Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy. βThis exercise is a powerful investment for our collective movement and an opportunity to address regional challenges together.β
ββParticipating assetsβ from the United Statesβ include theβ Navyβsβ Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), and a P-8A Poseidon βmaritime surveillance aircraftβ.β βPββersonnel from βU.S. 7th Fleetβ;β Command Task Forces (CTF) 76, 75 and 72β;β Command, Destroyer Squadron Seven (DESRON 7)β;β and the Marine Corpsβ ββMarine Rotational Forceβ β Southeast Asiaβ (MRF-SEA)ββ,ββ are also taking part in Sama Sama 2024β.β
From partner nations, we welcome the Philippine Navyβs BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150)β;β BRP Waray (LC-288)β;ββ BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380)β;ββ a Force Reconnaissance Group, Naval Special Operations Unit 2β;β and supporting units βthat includeβ a medical and media team. βThe Royal Canadian Navyβ will bring the Halifax-class frigate ββHMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) and a CH-148 Cyclone helicopterβ. Aβ βJapaβn Maritime Self-Defense ForceβShin Maywa US-2 amphibious aircraft and Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraftβ ββareβββ also participating.
βThrough exercises like Sama Sama, we continue to improve our interoperability and our readiness while deepening our understanding of each otherβs capabilities. This exercise reflects our enduring partnershipβone built on trust, shared values, and mutual defense,β said Cimicata. βTogether, we will refine our ability to respond to natural disasters, maritime threats, and humanitarian crises, while ensuring the safety and security of this vital region.
This year marks the 30th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
As the U.S. Navyβs forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singaporeβ. DESRON 7 alsoββ functions as βthe βββCTF ββ76 Sea Combat
β ββCommander andβ builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.
U.S. β7th Fleet is theβ βNavy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
