PH, Japan defense forces to see more interactions via RAA
Philippine News Agency
By Priam Nepomuceno
June 11, 2025, 10:43 am
MANILA -- The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will provide a basis for a greater interaction between the Filipino and Japanese defense forces, a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said.
"The RAA provides a basis for interaction between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Details of that will have to be further ironed out at the Defense Department for the AFP to execute. This is just the legal reference or legal basis for both countries to be able to engage militarily. But details will have to be ironed out further," PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon when asked how the agreement will help the Philippines in its territorial defense efforts.
He added that they are looking forward to the implementation of the RAA as this will allow the AFP to interact with a first world country in terms of military-to-military activities.
"It will afford our men and women the opportunity to be able to have hands-on training with modern weaponry. And it would also be an eye-opener to us on what there is as a way ahead for the Armed Forces (of the Philippines) modernization program," Trinidad said.
Japan's Diet ratified the RAA on June 6. The agreement was signed in Manila on July 8, 2024, ratified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Nov. 5, 2024 and ratified by the Senate on Dec. 16, 2024.
The RAA allows joint military operations, training and humanitarian missions between the Philippine and Japanese forces. (PNA)
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