The Deputy Chief of the Australian Army Maj. Gen. Natasha Fox rendered a courtesy call on the Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. at the Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila on May 24, 2023.
Maj. Gen. Fox, who was accompanied by Australian Defense Attaché to the Philippines Col. Paul Joseph Barta, is in the country to attend the 6th Philippine-Australia Staff Talks where Philippine Army and Australian Army key officers will lay out bilateral engagement plans for the next year and update planned bilateral activities for the year.
Maj. Gen. Fox said Australian troops have been learning a lot in jungle warfare operations from Philippine Army soldiers during bilateral training exercises between the two ground forces. For his part, the CGPA conveyed his gratitude to Australian Army soldiers for training their Philippine Army counterparts on counter-terrorism operations.
Lt. Gen. Brawner also highlighted the strong defense relations between the Philippines and Australia as well as the increased interoperability between the Philippine Army and Australian Army through the conduct of regular bilateral training exercises. It can be noted that Philippine Army and Australian Army troops are currently training side-by-side in the 13th iteration of Exercise Kasangga at the headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Gen. Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.
Photos by Cpl. Rodgen V. Quirante PA/ OACPA