Philippines-led trilateral ALON 2025 drills near Scarborough Shoal

The Philippines, Australia and Canada conducted coordinated naval and air drills this week in the West Philippine Sea near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, deploying three warships and aircraft as part of Exercise ALON 2025. The Philippine Navy flagship BRP Jose Rizal, the Royal Australian Navy guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville de Québec carried out helicopter crossdeck landings, personnel transfers by MH60 Seahawk and rigid-hulled inflatable boats, ship-to-ship interoperability drills and an air defense exercise that simulated responses to aerial threats. Philippine authorities said the multilateral engagement involved more than 3,600 personnel and was designed to promote freedom of navigation, regional stability and collective maritime security.

The drills, which launched from El Nido, Palawan and moved into waters east of the Scarborough Shoal, formed the concluding activities of a 15-day Exercise ALON that included live-fire and maneuver elements across Palawan, the West Philippine Sea and northern Luzon. About 1,600 Australian troops took part, making it Canberra's largest overseas exercise of the year, and Canadian forces...