PH, Japan set to activate defense pact allowing joint troop access

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen confirmed during a meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue that the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will take effect on Sept. 11. (Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defense)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) said on Wednesday that the Philippines and Japan will put into effect this week a defense pact that allows their troops to enter each other’s territory for training and joint operations.

This move is seen as a major step in deepening security cooperation amid tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen confirmed during a meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue that the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will take effect on Sept. 11, the DND said in a statement.

The pact, first signed in 2023, is expected to expand joint drills, logistical support and defense technology collaboration between the two US allies.

According to the DND, the talks also focused on maritime cooperation, including Japan’s ongoing transfer of surveillance and communications systems under its Official Security Assistance program.

Teodoro and Nakatani also cited their countries’ leadership in regional defense efforts, including their role as co-chairs of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus working group on maritime security. /apl