Study Room, Malacañan Palace
February 24, 2025

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received Defense Minister Gen Nakatani of Japan in a courtesy call at the Study Room, Malacañan Palace.

During their meeting, the President expressed confidence in the Japanese Minister’s visit to the country, stating that it would further strengthen defense cooperation between Manila and Tokyo in the face of regional challenges. He added that several decades of collaboration between their nations would help identify common ground for furthering relations.

For his part, Minister Nakatani shared that their two countries are making significant developments in defense and security cooperation under the leadership and partnership of President Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

The Japanese official is in the country for a three-day visit, during which he toured the Basa Air Base and Wallace Air Station, observing the country’s air surveillance radar system transferred by the Government of Japan. He also met with his counterpart, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Japan is one of the Philippines’ four (4) Strategic Partners. The two nations have established 264 bilateral agreements, including those concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology, infrastructure and Mindanao development.

The Philippines and Japan will celebrate 69 years of diplomatic relations on July 23 this year, along with 14 years of Strengthened Strategic Partnership since 2011.

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