Japan, the Philippines and Australia will hold a meeting in Manila on Feb. 17 to 18, 2025 to discuss regional security cooperation and economic and trade diplomacy, organizers said.
The initial meeting, described as a “Track 2” dialogue involving former officials and experts, will focus on joint maritime and economic security, according to the Institute for Regional Security, an Australian think tank.
Participants will include former military commanders, senior foreign ministry officials, academics and legal experts, the institute said.
Representatives from the Philippine departments of foreign affairs, defense, trade and industry, and the national security council, along with representatives from the Japanese and Australian embassies, will also participate.
Former Philippine Energy, Cabinet and Foreign Affairs Secretary Rene Almendras and former Japan Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami will co-host the event with retired Air Vice-Marshal Peter Nicholson, a founding director of the institute and former Air Commander Australia.
The institute plans to hold a “Track 1.5” meeting later in 2025 with government policymakers from the three countries, and establish the dialogue as an annual event rotating between the three nations.