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Royal Navy ship HMS Spey returns to the Philippines

UK’s Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Spey, has made her first visit of 2024 to the Philippines.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

During the port call in Manila Bay, Royal Navy officers from HMS Spey joined a range of professional and social interactions with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and local community, including a friendly game of football.ÌýÌý

Welcoming key personnel from HQ Armed Forces of the Philippines on board the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel, the British Embassy Embassy and UK Defence and Security Exports discussed ‘Re-Horizon 3â€� defence modernisation and interoperability as part of the UK Defence Trade Company Mission to Manila from 26 â€� 28 February 2024. This Mission is showcasing the wares of 13 premier UK companies in the defence sector, including BAe Systems, Thales and Leonardo.ÌýÌý

Welcoming the visit, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, said:

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp third visit of a Royal Navy ship to the Philippines in the past 18 months is a clear demonstration of our strengthening defence relationship. We deeply value cooperation and growing interoperability with the Philippines on maritime issues. This supports security and our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international system, as well as of trade and environmental protection. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp football match organised between the two Navies embodies our mutual commitment to building strong cultural partnerships and shared values, whether on the pitch or at sea.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp football match was held at the Philippine Marine Corps Barracks in Fort Bonifacio with players from the Philippines Navy taking on Royal Navy participants from HMS Spey. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp games were facilitated by 10 football coaches from Football for Humanity, a UK-based sport for development charity that uses football-focused interventions to tackle complex social issues.ÌýÌý

In addition, HMS Spey hosted tours for Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard personnel, including the officers who had recently graduated from maritime planning course delivered by the Royal Navy in Manila 5 â€� 8 Feb 24 as part of the UK’s Defence engagement strategy.ÌýÌý 

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Commanding Officer of HMS SPEY, Commander Paul Caddy said:

It is excellent to visit Manila and improve our ability to work together with colleagues from the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard. This is part of an increasing level of engagement. With SPEY recently taking part in the multinational Exercise SAMA SAMA for the second time, it is clear that the relationship is only going to grow. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp UK and Philippines firmly believe in, and promote the Rules Based International System; we share an interest in upholding international maritime law and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Commanding Officer of HMS Spey met with Rear Admiral Cornelio of the Philippine Coast Guard to discuss future cooperation. After departing from Manila, HMS Spey conducted a Passage at Sea Exercise, known as a PASSEX, with Philippine Navy ship BNP VALENTIN DIAZ and an AW159 helicopter.ÌýÌý

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp ship visit follows two recent training delegations from the British Armed Forces. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp British Army sent 20 Regular and Reservist military communications personnel and intelligence analysts to Manila to mentor cyber specialists from the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the first time on Exercise DEFENCE CYBER MARVEL, a global war game which took place 10-18 Feb 2024. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Exercise took international teams from Europe and the Indo-Pacific through their paces on a theoretical hacking attack against national infrastructure.ÌýÌý

On 5 â€� 8 Feb 2024, the British Royal Navy International Maritime Training Team delivered an Integrated Maritime Mission Planning Course (IMMP) at the HQ Philippine Coast Guard. Attendees comprised 15 officers from the Philippine Navy and 15 from the Philippine Coast Guard. Students were taught a planning process to equip them to address threats and challenges whilst manoeuvring at sea, such as during conduct of humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and area reconnaissance. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp course was also an ideal mechanism to build interoperability between maritime organisations and navies, and to further deepen the defence partnership between the UK and Philippines, both proud maritime nations.ÌýÌý

Notes to editors:

HMS Spey 

  • Free to use visuals: HMS Spey ; ÌýÌý
  • »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp HMS Spey, one of the greenest ships in the Royal Navy, is a river class offshore patrol vessel. 
  • »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Royal Navy has a persistent presence in the region through HMS Spey and sister ship HMS Tamar. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappy are on a long term deployment in the Indo-Pacific, as part of a five-year operation, starting in September 2021.ÌýÌý
  • Working with partners, the ship is helping tackle security challenges, supporting efforts against illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries activity, and supporting nations to deal with the impacts of climate change. 

Football

  • Football for Humanity Foundation is a charity dedicated to using football and the power of play to create personal and social transformations.  It is registered in the United Kingdom and the Philippines, and may be reached at .

Updates to this page

Published 28 February 2024