Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on November 13 witnessed troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Australian Defense Force (ADF) demonstrate joint urban warfare capabilities in Camp Aguinaldo.
Turnbull is in the Philippines for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Manila and Clark.
Screenshot from Rappler video.
The AFP-ADF demonstration witnessed by Turnbull today was in connection with Australia’s commitment to provide specialized training on urban warfare to Filipino troops.
ADF contingent is currently deployed to Philippines for the training.
Screenshot from Rappler video.
In September, Australia Minister for Defence Marise Payne and National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana discussed the said training.
“We are very committed to supporting [Philippines] in its efforts to defend itself against terrorist threats not only because we support our friends but because it is important for Australia as well, this is a threat to the region that we all need to work together to defeat,” Payne said.
During the height of Marawi City conflict, Australia sent two surveillance aircraft to help Filipino troops.
“We are happy with the assistance that we are getting from Australia, the P-3s and if they can send a small detachment of Australian troops to stay to train our people maybe information gathering [and] analysis,” Lorenzana said in September.