Exercise SAMA SAMA, Filipino Translation for “together,” is an annual bilateral navy-to-navy exercise between the Philippines and the United States.
The exercise includes eight other countries with the participation of Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Marine National, and the Royal Navy as subject matter experts. Meanwhile, the Royal New Zealand Navy and Thai Navy also joined as observers.
Exercise SAMA SAMA serves as a vital platform for participating navies to exchange best practices, enhancing not only their own country’s Human Assistance Disaster Response capabilities but also fostering regional cooperation in response to shared and mutual challenges as well as nontraditional concerns.