Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the counterpart of the Department of National Defense’s (DND) in the Philippines, will be deploying two of its self-made air surveillance radars following the bilateral talks centered around both country’s defense and technology cooperation.
Japan Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said on Monday after the 2nd Philippines-Japan and Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2 plus 2) the importance of demonstrating cooperation and partnership with allies to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows Japan to participate in the Balikatan exercises in the Philippines along with the United States, was signed between the two countries on Monday.
“The RAA is groundbreaking, and I hope that it will further enhance cooperation and exchange between the Self-Defense Force and Philippine Forces,” Kihara said.
Kihara also assured the Philippine government of the continued strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation for free and open Indo-Pacific.
The agreement, first negotiated in Tokyo in November 2023 and refined in June 2024, originated from the inaugural Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting in April 2022.
Kihara vowed to work closely with Teodoro in further realizing defense cooperation and exchanges between the two nations.
“The signature of the reciprocal access agreement today represents the cooperative relationship that our two nations enjoy, and I welcome this new development which reinforces the effectiveness of our defense cooperation,” the Japanese defense minister stated.
“Beyond our bilateral relations, Japan is also keen to deepen trilateral and quadrilateral ties, such as Japan, the Philippines, United States; or Japan, the Philippines, United States and Australia.”
DND Secretary Gibo Teodoro said the signing was “another milestone in our shared endeavour to ensure a rules-based international order, to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in our region.”
“This historic agreement is seen as a milestone in enhancing military cooperation and ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” AFP said in a statement
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed optimism about the future of Philippine-Japan military relations, stating, “The RAA will pave the way for joint military exercises, closer defense cooperation, and robust security relations between our forces. This agreement exemplifies our shared commitment to uphold a rules-based international order and secure a peaceful and prosperous region.”
