BAGO pa opisyal na nagwakas ang 6th Iteration ng KAMANDAG 2022 o Philippine Marine led capacity enhancement training na tinaguriang, “Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” (KAMANDAG), o “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea”, ay namataan ang ilang barkong pandigma ng United States sa Philippine waters.
Nitong Biyernes ay nakadaong sa bahagi ng Manila Bay ang dambuhalang nuclear powered Nimitz-class USS Ronald Reagan isang forward-deployed aircraft carrier, at carrier strike group para sa kanilang official port visit.
Agad na nilinaw ng local military officials at maging ng US embassy at ng pamunuan ng USS Ronald Reagan na walang kinalaman sa maritime security ang kanilang pagbisita sa Pilipinas dahil normal routine lamang umano ito ng kanilang pagpapatrulya sa bahagi ng Indo-Pacific region.
Pormal na sinalubong ni US Ambassador to the Philippine Marykay Carlson ang USS Ronald Reagan at ang ilang libong crew nito kung saan sinasabing 10 percent nito o isa sa bawat sampung tripulante ng aircraft carrier ay Filipino o may dugong Pinoy.
Ayon kay Amb. Carlson, ang USS Ronald Reagan, ay simbolo ng United States Navy’s commitment sa pagmamantina ng free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The USS Ronald Reagan’s visit to Manila is a genuinely, true symbol of our friendship and the strong ties that our nations share. Today, thousands of sailors prepare to enjoy some hard- earned rest, recuperation, and a chance to experience the rich Filipino culture for the first time, while many others are returning to the Philippines, eager to see their families and loved ones waiting for them in Manila,” ani Carlson.
“The visit of the Reagan is important for several reasons, strategically and operationally it further strengthens our nation’s relationship with the Philippines and personally, it deepens our crew’s connection to the Philippine people and their culture. But more importantly for almost 10 percent, today is about family. For 1 of every 10 Reagan Sailors, are Filipino. Today they are returning home to be amongst friends and loved ones.
Pahayag ni Capt. Daryle Cardone .. Sailors will experience all that Manila offers, there is much the crew will see and do and we look forward to it dagdag pa ng opisyal.
Samantala, inihayag naman ni Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly commander, Task Force 70, CSG 5, tanging forward-deployed strike group ng U.S. Navy, ang kanilang port visits ay malaking oportunidad upang ipakita sa kanilang mga kaalyadong bansa at partners in the region na panatilihin ang matatag na relasyon na nag-ugat sa tiwala,
Namataan din sa Puerto Princesa City sa Palawan ang USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) isang Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast-transport vessel na may kakayahang magsagawa ng rapid intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment, at may kakayahang mabilis na makapagala ng 600 short tons of equipment sa bilis na 35 knots (nautical miles per hour).
Ang Kamandag 2022 ay joint military exercise sa pagitan ng Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) at United States Marine Corps (USMC) na sinalihan ngayon ng Japan at South Korea na kapwa umalma sa isinagawang cruise at ballistic missile test ng North Korea. VERLIN RUIZ