US 3rd Fleet commander lauds BRP Jose Rizal’s ‘phenomenal job’ at RIMPAC 2020

United States Navy 3rd Fleet commander Vice Admiral Scott D. Conn has said the Philippine Navy’s delegation at RIMPAC 2020 is doing a phenomenal job. US 3rd Fleet is the RIMPAC lead.

“I would say up front, we are very happy to have the Philippines participating in RIMPAC here with their ship, [BRP] Jose Rizal,” Vice Admiral Conn said August 27 during a special phone briefing hosted by US Department of State’s Asia Pacific Media Hub.

Vice Admiral Conn added that the said “group of sailors, led by their captain, is doing a phenomenal job.  And I think, as with all RIMPAC participants, those countries – and I’ve said it before – that share the values of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, we are glad to have them on.  And that team is doing a very, very good job.”

In this year’s RIMPAC, ten nations sent 22 ships, 1 submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel to conduct naval drills at sea around the Hawaiian Islands.