PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that he is exploring the prospect of incorporating Japanese military forces into the Balikatan military exercises next year, traditionally held between the Philippines and the US. This contemplation follows the successful Philippines-US-Japan trilateral summit in Washington, DC.
During an interview with members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), PBBM expressed openness to including Japan in the Balikatan exercises.
He highlighted that these exercises, rooted in the Philippines-US military defense treaty, have been a longstanding annual event.
Regarding Japan’s potential involvement, the President stated, “Now, with the inclusion of Japan, and to some of these exercises that we’ve been doing, not only Balikatan, but others, I don’t see any reason why Japan should not be part of those exercises in the future … And, I think that may be something that we can study.”
Marcos recently engaged in a trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the White House, reaffirming the strong commitment to economic and maritime cooperation among the three countries.
He emphasized that Japan’s participation in the military exercises would enhance collaboration, coordination, and focus on addressing pertinent issues while optimizing resources.
Moreover, Marcos underscored the significance of Japan’s involvement in upholding peace, stability, freedom of navigation, and adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
When asked about the possibility of Japanese forces joining the 2025 exercises, he indicated that a conclusion to this year’s Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the US would precede any decision.
He also acknowledged the complexity of the ongoing exercises, which encompass novel areas such as cybersecurity and command and control, and emphasized the need to assess how the trilateral agreement may provide more options for Japan’s inclusion.
Marcos’ attendance at the FOCAP forum marked the first time in nine years that a Philippine president participated in the event. This tradition was initiated by his father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., who graced the event half a century ago as the first Philippine leader to do so. (Gilbert Perdez)
