Philippine President Announces Agreement with Japan to Allow Japan Self-Defense Forces Deployment

Contents Discussed at the Summit Held in the US

Ferdinand Marcos, the President of the Philippines, announced on the 15th (local time) that his country will sign an agreement with Japan to allow the deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel to the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to foreign media including Bloomberg News, President Marcos is finalizing a 'Mutual Access Agreement' that enables the deployment of each country's forces to the other's territory. The agreement is expected to be signed soon.

During the process of promoting the agreement, President Marcos stated, "In principle, there are no elements of conflict." He also explained that the agreement was discussed at the trilateral summit of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines held in the U.S. on the 11th.

He expressed a welcoming stance toward the participation of the Self-Defense Forces in the largest joint military exercise conducted by the U.S. and the Philippines, known as Balikatan. This is because the regular participation of the Self-Defense Forces is believed to help maintain peace in the South China Sea.

This year's Balikatan exercise begins on the 22nd and will continue until next month. The number of U.S. and Philippine troops participating is at least 17,000.