July 08, 2024 - In a significant development for regional security, the Philippines and Japan signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) today, July 8, 2024. The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. following a courtesy call by Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru.
The RAA marks a major step forward in strengthening the Philippines-Japan alliance. This agreement establishes a legal framework for the conduct of joint military exercises, training, and other defense cooperation activities between the two nations. It also defines the legal status of visiting troops and their civilian support personnel.
This signing comes after the conclusion of the 2nd Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2), which served as a platform to discuss and deepen security and defense policy coordination.
The RAA is expected to facilitate mutually beneficial defense cooperation, enhancing the Philippines and Japan's ability to address regional security challenges. However, the agreement still needs to be ratified by the legislative bodies of both countries before it officially takes effect.