PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday the ongoing visit of Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen will further strengthen the defense cooperation between Manila and Tokyo in the face of regional changes.
“I hope that with the many changes that are occurring in our region, that your visit will – we will be able to discuss some of those anticipated changes that we are looking at in view of strengthening our relations between Japan and the Philippines,” President Marcos told the Japanese Defense Minister, who paid him a courtesy call in Malacañan Palace.
The President said the several decades of collaboration between Manila and Tokyo will help the two countries “find many common grounds” in furthering their relations.
As a response, Minister Gen said the two countries have been making “great developments” in the areas of defense cooperation and security cooperation” under the leadership of and partnership between President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
During his three-day stay, Minister Gen said he visited Basa Air Base and Wallace Air Station. “I was able to observe with my eyes the air surveillance radar system which was transferred by the Japanese government,” he said.
Minister Gen also met with the Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
Japan is one of the Philippines’ four Strategic Partners. The two countries have 264 bilateral agreements, including the transfer of defense equipment and technology, infrastructure, and on Mindanao development.
Since 2023, the Philippines has been one of the first recipients of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) and the only country that Japan selected for grant aid in two consecutive years.
OSA is a grant aid cooperation framework that provides development assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and related organizations for the purpose of deepening security cooperation.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces is also offering education and training opportunities to the AFP.
The Philippines and Japan co-chair the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security for the 2024-2027 cycle, focusing on the role of naval forces in Blue Economy development, such as addressing and mitigating the impact of climate change and protection of marine environment.
In December 2024, the Philippines, Japan, and the US held the inaugural Trilateral Maritime Dialogue in Tokyo. The Philippine delegation was led by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with representatives from DND, AFP, National Security Council (NSC), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
They discussed strategic maritime issues and agreed to enhance ASEAN relations.
The Philippines and Japan will celebrate their 69 years of diplomatic relations in July 23 this year, and 14 years of Strengthened Strategic Partnership since 2011.
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