Japan and the Philippines exchanged diplomatic notes Monday, August 12, for the entry into force of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement, a defense cooperation pact signed July 8, 2024. The agreement will officially take effect September 11, 2025.
The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement establishes procedures for cooperative activities conducted by defense forces of one country while visiting the other and defines the status of visiting forces.
The agreement is expected to facilitate joint exercises and disaster relief operations between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, while improving interoperability between the two militaries.
The pact comes as the security environment in the region becomes increasingly severe. The entry into force of the agreement with the Philippines—a strategic partner located at a strategic juncture on sea lanes and sharing fundamental values and principles—will further promote security and defense cooperation between the two countries and support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exchange of diplomatic notes in Manila formally completed the procedural requirements for the bilateral defense agreement to become operational next month.
