The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)’s warship HMCS Montreal docked in Manila as part of the country’s goodwill visit to the Philippines which will continue until August 6.
Considered one of the most advanced warships, the HMCS Montreal is equipped with “extensive anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare weapons and sensors to complement their substantial anti-air warfare defenses.”
In addition, it also has extensive “state-of-the-art damage control and machinery control systems.”
The Canadian Embassy announced that the goodwill visit is a testament to “Canada’s strong commitment and engagement in the region under its Indo-Pacific Strategy.”
The warship’s deployment in the Philippines is part of Operation HORIZON which displays Canada’s commitment to promote peace and stability “in support of a rules-based international order in some of the world’s busiest and most vital waterways.”
“The arrival of HMCS Montreal, is another demonstration of the exceptionally close relationship between Canada and the Philippines, especially as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries,” Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said.
Commanding Officer of HMCS Montreal Travis Bain echoed these sentiments, reaffirming the RCN’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Philippines through collaborative efforts with the Philippine Navy, emphasizing “sailor-to-sailor exchanges and strengthening interoperability between the two navies.”
During the visit, HMCS Montreal will take part in the “development and training opportunities with the Philippine Navy, community outreach, and local engagements.” Leisure engagements, including a friendly game of ice hockey and a culinary exchange between the ship’s cooks and those of the Philippine Navy, are also planned.
The visit coincides with a significant period for Canada-Philippines defense relations, marked by increased engagement and training opportunities under the Defense Cooperation Memorandum signed in January.
Efforts are also underway to finalize a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SoVFA) between the two nations.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: Canadian warship docks in Manila for ‘goodwill visit’
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