PH, UK eye expanding maritime cooperation

PH, UK eye expanding maritime cooperation
Javier Joe Ismael February 11, 2023 https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/11/news/national/ph-uk-eye-expanding...

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, February 9, announced that the Philippines and the United Kingdom had agreed to map out ways to expand Philippines-UK bilateral relations by deepening cooperation on maritime interests and reflecting the wealth of common interest between the two maritime countries at the inaugural Maritime Dialogue in Manila on Feb. 7, 2023.

Posted on its website, the DFA's announcement stated that the two countries exchanged views on important global and regional developments and shared insights on the strategic and practical impacts of emerging maritime-related technology and legal concepts.

Maritime law enforcement, marine environment protection, climate adaptation, fisheries management efforts and professional seafaring also formed part of the dialogue's agenda.

DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Maria Angela Ponce and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legal Director Andrew Murdoch led their countries' respective delegations to the Maritime Dialogue.

Murdoch was joined by UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils and officials from the FCDO, British Embassy in Manila and British High Commission in Singapore.

Reflecting the country's comprehensive approach to maritime issues, the Philippine delegation consisted of various policy-making, regulatory, law enforcement and coordinating agencies.

The DFA was joined by the Department of National Defense, including the Philippine Navy; the Department of Agriculture, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; the National Security Council; the Department of Transportation, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority; the National Coast Watch Center; and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group.

The Philippines sees the dialogue as an opportunity "to advance shared strategic interests with "close and like-minded partners," Ponce said.

The UK identified maritime cooperation as an area that it wishes to "turbocharge" as part of the Philippines-United Kingdom Enhanced Partnership.

The Maritime Dialogue was an outcome of the Philippines-UK High-Level Political Talks, held on Nov. 22, 2022, and an expansion of the 2020 Maritime Law Dialogue between the two countries.