U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin hosted bilateral staff talks with officials from the Philippine Navy, aboard 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during a scheduled port visit, March 5.

The staff talks focused on growing and strengthening ties between the two nations, as participants discussed topics ranging from medical training, and legal practices to network security, logistics, and disaster relief coordination.

"[This visit] really represents the strong relationship between our two countries, the Philippines and the United States, which is growing stronger," said Aucoin at a reception aboard Blue Ridge, following the staff talks. "We are looking for opportunities on ways that we can strengthen this relationship and strengthen the peace and stability of this region."

The U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build maritime partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability and prevent conflict.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/ and http://www.navy.mil/local/c7f/.