Sama Sama is an annual bilateral navy-to-navy exercise between the Philippine Navy (PN) and the United States Navy (USN), while Lumbas is an annual bilateral navy-to-navy exercise between the PN and the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN). This is the first time that bilateral exercises will be conducted simultaneously.
“In the two years since we last had an in-person Sama Sama opening ceremony, a lot has changed in the world,” said Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet. “What hasn’t changed is the interests our navies and nations share in a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Interoperability exercises with the PN, USN and RAN focus on warfighting capabilities, while the French Navy (FN), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Navy (RN) are mainly involved to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training. .
“Exercises like this allow us to work together multilaterally, not only to reinforce our commitments to our partner nations, but also to expand our regional relationships,” said PN Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, flag officer in command.
The shore phase will include a series of activities including expert exchanges on the awareness and intelligence of the maritime domain, maritime aviation, the band, the engagement of surface warfare missiles, refueling at sea , medical, explosive ordnance disposal, visit, board, search and seizure, legal, and underwater construction operations of participating navies.
“The combination of exercises provides an opportunity to further extend our joint cooperation with a variety of friends and on a larger scale than ever before,” RAN Commodore Ray Leggatt, chief of staff, Naval Headquarters.
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The events at sea will take place in the Sea of Sulu, on October 14-18. They will include division tactics, bridge landing qualifications, sea refueling and approach, search and rescue, and more.
