The Philippines, represented by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., has initiated formal negotiations with Japan on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). The negotiation team, led by Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo, has departed for Japan to begin discussions.
The timeline for finalizing the RAA remains uncertain, but Teodoro has advised the team to work efficiently and coordinate with the Philippine Senate for rapid ratification. The RAA mirrors agreements the Philippines has with the United States and Australia, allowing American and Australian forces to station in the Philippines for training purposes.
The proposed RAA with Japan, which already holds similar agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom, was a key topic in previous bilateral talks between Philippine and Japanese defense leaders.