MANILA — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin formally received Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at Malacañang on Friday during a courtesy visit. Marles' trip coincides with the second Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting (DMM), organized by the Department of National Defense, where officials discussed key bilateral and regional security issues.

In conjunction with the DMM, Marles is set to observe Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations (Exercise Alon 2025), Australia's largest overseas joint military training this year, emphasizing the expanding defense partnership between Manila and Canberra, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

The exercise, running from August 15 to 29 across Luzon including Palawan, involves more than 3,600 troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defence Force, supported by contingents from the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps' Marine Rotation Force–Darwin. The training focuses primarily on amphibious and land operations.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown also attended the courtesy call, underscoring the close diplomatic and defense coordination between the two countries.

This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening military cooperation amidst ongoing regional security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.