PH, Japan near completion of military pact IRR

The Philippines and Japan are nearing the completion of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for their Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which will facilitate joint military drills and troop exchanges.

The RAA, already ratified by Japan's Diet and approved by the Philippine Senate in December 2024, aims to strengthen defense cooperation and enhance interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.

While a definitive timeline for the IRR's crafting is not yet set, progress is expected soon, according to AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad stated that the RAA provides a legal basis for greater interaction between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the AFP.

Trinidad added that further details will need to be ironed out by the Department of National Defense for the AFP to execute the agreement.

He expressed anticipation for the RAA's implementation, as it will allow the AFP opportunities for hands-on training with modern weaponry and insights into the AFP modernization program.