Japan and this country are considering expanding defense cooperation
Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi will discuss expanding defense cooperation with the country's president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Philippines today.
TL;DR
- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is visiting the Philippines for talks on expanding defense cooperation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
- Potential topics include the transfer of used Japanese destroyers to the Philippines.
- The 2024 Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan and the Philippines allows for large-scale joint military exercises.
- The Balikatan exercise, involving US, Philippine, and allied forces, aims to prepare for security situations and deter China's assertiveness.
- Koizumi will attend the Balikatan exercises, which include troops from the Philippines, US, Japan, and Canada.
- Koizumi recently signed a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesia.
- The Philippines and Japan are allies of the US.