The National Security Council (NSA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hailed the ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) by the Japanese National Diet on Friday, June 6—a move described by the NSC as “a defining moment in Philippine-Japan defense relations: timely, strategic, and grounded in shared interests.”
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the RAA enables joint operations, training, and humanitarian missions between the Philippine and Japanese armed forces, giving both nations the tools to act together credibly and effectively, especially as the security environment in the Indo-Pacific becomes more volatile.
He also clarified that the agreement is not about expanding influence but defending principles of sovereignty, stability, and the rule of law, providing a clear framework for cooperation and “sends an unmistakable message: the Philippines and Japan are prepared to stand together to uphold international law and a rules-based regional order.”
“Japan’s choice to pursue its first such agreement in Asia with the Philippines speaks to the deep trust between our nations and a shared understanding of what is at stake. The RAA is both a practical mechanism and a strategic signal,” Año stated.
“We thank the Government of Japan for its resolve and foresight. The Philippines is fully committed to operationalizing this agreement and working with Japan to advance peace, security, and resilience in our region and across the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. also hailed the ratification of the RAA as a “significant step in advancing bilateral defense cooperation and regional stability,” laying a foundation for joint training, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response (HADR) operations between the AFP and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), which enhances interoperability and coordination in addressing both traditional and emerging security challenges.
“The RAA reinforces our mutual dedication to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific,” Brawner said, as he extended his gratitude to JGSDF Chief of Joint Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida.
“I look forward to further strengthening collaboration between our Armed Forces and the JSDF in pursuit of our common peace and security goals,” Brawner said.
