On 6 December 2024, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), deploying the JS SAMIDARE, participated in a trilateral exercise alongside the United States Navy (USN) and the Philippine Navy (PN) as part of the 5th Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA). This initiative marks another significant step in fostering deeper cooperation among the three countries to address shared maritime security challenges and ensure regional stability.

The exercise took place and featured a series of tactical drills designed to enhance collective maritime capabilities, strengthen interoperability, and reinforce regional security cooperation. 

This trilateral engagement also highlights the shared commitment of Japan, the United States, and the Philippines to the principles of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). This vision emphasizes the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight while promoting a rules-based international order as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).