Philippines, UK Eye Expanding Ties into Maritime Cooperation

Department of Foreign Affairs Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legal Director Andrew Murdoch at the inaugural Maritime Dialogue on 07 February 2023. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

MANILA, 09 February 2023 – The Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to map out ways to expand Philippines-UK bilateral relations by deepening cooperation on maritime interests and reflecting the wealth of common interest between the two maritime countries at the inaugural Maritime Dialogue in Manila on 07 February 2023. 

The two countries exchanged views on important global and regional developments, and shared insights on the strategic and practical impacts of emerging maritime-related technology and legal concepts. Maritime law enforcement, marine environment protection, climate adaptation, fisheries management efforts, and professional seafaring also formed part of the Dialogue’s agenda. 

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legal Director Andrew Murdoch led their countries’ respective delegations to the Dialogue. Mr. Murdoch was joined by UK 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 Navy; 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 our National Mapping and Resource Information Authority; the National Coast Watch Center; and the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group.

The Philippines sees the Maritime Dialogues as an opportunity “to advance shared strategic interests with our close and like-minded partners”, Assistant Secretary Ponce said. The UK, for its  part, identified maritime cooperation as an area that it wishes to “turbocharge” as part of the Philippines-United Kingdom 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. END

Sharing a common passion for the law: DFA-MOAO Assistant Secretary Ponce and UK FCDO Legal Director Murdoch. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

In her opening remarks, Assistant Secretary Ponce said that the Philippines and the UK, both maritime nations, are “natural partners” in the pursuit of maritime cooperation – one of the DFA’s policy thrusts. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce led the Philippine Delegation to the inaugural Maritime Dialogue. The delegation included representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, including the Philippine Navy, the Department of Agriculture, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the National Security Council, Department of Transportation, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including our National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Climate Change Commission, the National Coast Watch Center, and the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group. They are joined by the UK Delegation in the photo. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)