Tag Archives: FONOPS

Philippines Considering Addendum to U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement

Philippines Considering Addendum to U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement

USS Wasp (LHD-1) makes a port visit to Subic Bay, the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 2019 on April 1, 2019. US Navy Photo

MANILA — The U.S. and the Philippines are set to reinforce a contentious agreement allowing U.S. troops to operate from the island nation as tensions with China remain high, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during a pre-State of the Nation Address forum on Wednesday. Read More

Destroyer USS Russell Performs South China Sea FONOP

Destroyer USS Russell Performs South China Sea FONOP

The guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) conducts routine underway operations. Russell is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Navy Photo

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer performed a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea on Wednesday, U.S. 7th Fleet announced. Read More

Panel: Pace of Navy Freedom of Navigation Operations Stressing Force

Panel: Pace of Navy Freedom of Navigation Operations Stressing Force

USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) steams near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on July 14, 2020. US Navy Photo

Freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea puts stress on the fleet when the Navy could use that time more effectively “to train up for high-end conflict,” a national security expert who served in the Trump administration said Friday. Read More

Philippines Freezes Pull-Out From Visiting U.S. Forces Agreement

Philippines Freezes Pull-Out From Visiting U.S. Forces Agreement

USS Wasp (LHD-1) makes a port visit to Subic Bay, the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 2019 on April 1, 2019. US Navy Photo

 

The Philippine government is putting the brakes on its plan to end a critical aspect of its Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S., but experts say it is too soon to tell whether this decision signals a warming relationship between the two allies.

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USS Montgomery Conducts First 2020 FONOP in South China Sea

USS Montgomery Conducts First 2020 FONOP in South China Sea

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) operates in the South China Sea. Navy photo

Over the weekend, Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery (LCS-8) conducted a freedom of navigation operation through waters near the Spratly Islands claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, the Navy said.

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Beijing Irked at Twin U.S. South China Sea FONOPS

Beijing Irked at Twin U.S. South China Sea FONOPS

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) sails through the South China Sea on Nov. 18, 2019. US Navy Photo

A pair of U.S. Navy freedom of navigation operations on two consecutive days in the South China Sea this week has irked Chinese officials at a time they are seeking to ease trade tensions with the U.S. Read More