Makati City: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on Monday that the defense and security relations between the Philippines and Japan have significantly strengthened over the years. This declaration came ahead of his bilateral meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

According to Philippines News Agency, both leaders emphasized the importance of their partnership during a visit to key military bases including Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, and Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union. These visits underscored the robust nature of the bilateral relationship, particularly in defense and security, which both nations aim to enhance further to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region amidst challenges from countries like China.

Teodoro expressed his eagerness to deepen the defense relationship to support a rules-based international order and a resilient Indo-Pacific region. Nakatani, on the other hand, praised the Philippines for its hospitality and recounted past collaborations with former DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. He highlighted the necessity for increased defense cooperation to address the complex regional security environment.

The defense chiefs plan to engage in strategic discussions to elevate defense cooperation. Additionally, Teodoro is hopeful that Japan's Diet will ratify the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) this year, which promises to bolster defense collaboration and enhance interoperability between the Philippine Armed Forces and Japan Self-Defense Force.

The RAA, signed on July 8, 2024, and ratified by the Philippine Senate on December 16, is anticipated to significantly boost defense and security cooperation, marking a new chapter in the Philippines-Japan defense relations.