Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday hailed the upcoming implementation of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), calling it a “logical step forward” in strengthening defense and security ties between the two nations.
Speaking at the ceremonial exchange of notes for the RAA’s entry into force at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City, Teodoro said the pact — which will take effect on September 11 — reflects the “strong people-to-people ties, shared values, and shared purpose” of the Philippines and Japan.
“At the end of the day, what it means is that our most potent instrument of national power, which is our Armed Force and that of Japan, can work together—not to destabilize the world order, but to preserve it against unilateral attempts to reshape it for the selfish benefit of some,” Teodoro said.
He stressed that the agreement, pursued under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japan’s recent prime ministers, would contribute to peace, security, and stability in the Asia-Pacific, the broader Indo-Pacific, and beyond.
“It also provides deterrence for those actors who may not see things the way we do,” he added, noting that it will enhance cooperation in defense industry, infrastructure, technology, and knowledge exchange.
Teodoro urged both countries to fast-track the conclusion of component agreements needed to fully implement the RAA, which will enable closer military cooperation, including troop hosting for joint training and humanitarian missions.
The RAA, signed in July 2024, was approved by the Philippine Senate in December 2024 and the Japanese Diet in June 2025. Japan is one of the Philippines’ four strategic partners, with over 260 bilateral agreements, including on defense equipment transfer, infrastructure, and Mindanao development.
Since 2023, the Philippines has been one of the first recipients of Japan’s Official Security Assistance and the only country granted aid for two consecutive years.
