The defense agreement seeking to expand and strenghten security cooperation between the Philippines and Japan through joint military drills and other activities will enter into force on September 11, 2025.

Philippine and Japanese officials led by Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Ambassador Endo Kazuya held a ceremonial exchange of notes Tuesday to formalize the Reciprocal Access Agreement or RAA, which will allow the deployment of Japanese forces and Filipino troops in each other's territory for joint exercises.

"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 the sea lanes and sharing fundamental values and principles, will further promote security and defense cooperation between the two countries, and firmly support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," the Japanese embassy said in a statement.

Similar to Manila's Visiting Forces Agreement with its treaty ally, the United States, the RAA defense pact with the Philippines is the first to be signed by Japan in Asia. Japan signed similar agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.