PHL, UK target closer maritime collaboration
THE Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to map out avenues for the expansion of their bilateral relations by deepening cooperation on maritime interests and reflecting the wealth of common interests at the inaugural Maritime Dialogue in Manila on February 7.
The two countries exchanged views on important global and regional developments, then shared insights on the strategic and practical impacts of emerging maritime-related technology and legal concepts.
Maritime-law enforcement, marine-environment protection, climate-change adaptation, fisheriesmanagement efforts, and professional seafaring also comprised the dialogue’s agenda.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce and UK’S Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legal Director Andrew Murdoch led their countries’ respective delegations to the exchange. Murdoch was joined by 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 Nav y; 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’s Maritime Group.
The Philippines sees the Maritime Dialogues as opportunity “to advance shared strategic interests with our close and like-minded partners,” Ponce said.
The UK, for its part, identified maritime cooperation as an area that it wishes to “turbocharge” as part of the Philippines-uk Enhanced Partnership.
The Maritime Dialogue was an outcome of the Philippines-uk High Level Political Talks held on November 22, 2022, and an expansion of the 2020 Maritime Law Dialogue between the two countries.