U.S., Japan, and Philippines Strengthen Maritime Cooperation in Manila Dialogue

On June 8, the Philippines hosted the second United States-Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue in Manila, bringing together high-level officials to discuss regional maritime priorities. The U.S. delegation was led by Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael George DeSombre, with key participants including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia Hunt VanderToll, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Bedard, U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Director of International Affairs Captain Jennifer Runion, and representatives from the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group in the Philippines.

The dialogue emphasized collaborative efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Topics included aligning trilateral foreign aid strategies, coordinating joint military operations and training exercises, and advancing capacity-building programs to enhance maritime security across the region.

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