2 German naval ships in Manila for 4-day visit

MANILA, Philippines — Two German naval ships are in Manila for a four-day visit, the first in over 20 years, as part of their Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024.

The port call of FGS Baden-Württemberg and FGS Frankfurt am Main, docked at Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor from Sept. 16 to 19, comes as the international rules-based order in the South China Sea is constantly being challenged.

Rear Admiral Axle Schulz led the German Navy and was welcomed by Philippine Navy Commodore Emilio Orio and German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke.

“This visit is not only a testament to the enhanced defense cooperation between Germany and the Philippines, but also underscores how politically significant the Indo-Pacific region has become for Germany,” Pfaffernoschke said.

The presence of Germany’s navy ships in the Indo-Pacific, Pfaffernoschke said, underlines German readiness to stand up for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law, as well to uphold the right to free navigation and affirm its commitment to a stronger security engagement in the Indo-Pacific.