THE United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) co-hosted a Technical Expert Workshop for maritime law enforcement agencies from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam from Nov. 5 to 7 in Bagac town, Bataan province.
The US Embassy in Manila said the workshop aimed at “enhancing cooperation in addressing shared maritime issues, including collaborative approaches to countering illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.”
Participants include 30 delegates from participating nations’ coast guards, border security and fisheries enforcement agencies.
(From left) US Embassy Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Deputy Director Luke Bruns, Thailand delegation head Capt. Ktitkorn Kanjanawanich, Indonesia delegation head Cmdr. Semuel Sandi Rundupadang, Philippine Coast Guard Captains Noriel Ramos and Jimmy Naisod, Malaysia delegation head Cmdr. Mohd Hairil Bin Othman, and Vietnam delegation head Col. Cao Vu Long. US EMBASSY PHOTO
They conducted technical exchanges and scenario-based simulation exercises to improve existing policies and standard operating procedures related to information sharing and operational coordination.
The embassy said that the participating agencies would collectively present their observations and recommendations to their senior leaders at the 2025 Commanders’ Forum.
The annual Commanders’ Forum and Technical Expert Workshop series are funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) through its Southeast Asia Maritime Law Enforcement Initiative (Seamlei).
US Embassy INL Deputy Director Luke Bruns explained that the annual Seamlei Commanders’ Forum and Technical Expert Workshop are “key elements of the broader effort to enhance maritime cooperation among Southeast Asian partners.”
Capt. Noriel Ramos, PCG Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center deputy director, described the workshop as an effective venue to gather with like-minded regional partners “to discuss and collaborate on maritime law enforcement efforts for regional stability to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
He also said the PCG intends to host the next Seamlei Commanders’ Forum in 2025.
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