Philippines, Korea, Singapore sail together to Hawaii war games

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MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Navy frigate trained alongside warships from South Korea and Singapore on June 17 as the three navies sailed toward Hawaii for this year's iteration of the world's largest maritime warfare drills. 

The guided-missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG6) ran a "leapfrog" maneuver with the Singaporean Navy frigate RSS Steadfast (RSS 70) and the Korean Navy amphibious landing ship ROKS Cheon Ja Bong (LST-687), according to a statement Friday, June 19, by the Philippine Navy. 

They were on their way to Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific exercise, an over 30-nation exercise held biennially. 

The Philippine Navy said the drill tested the crews' ship handling, communication and seamanship at close quarters.

"During the maneuver, the participating ships executed a leapfrog formation, in which vessels alternated as maneuvering ship and guide of the formation while maintaining close safe distance at 50 yards," the Navy statement read. 

The group sail saw one of Manila's most modern warships next to the navies of two nations Manila has courted as security partners.

South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries built the Malvar and delivered it to the Philippines in 2025. It is considered the lead ship of the most heavily armed class in the Philippine fleet.

Manila and Seoul elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in October 2024, with defense and security as one of their main priorities.

Meanwhile, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in May 2026, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and Singapore's defense minister, Chan Chun Sing, discussed expanding joint training between their armed forces. — Cristina Chi