TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. bared that the Philippines will review a "tripartite agreement" with two of its closest allies, the United States and Japan, saying it is part of Manila's process of strengthening its alliances with its long-time partners amid "dangerous" situations.
"It is something that we certainly are going to be studying upon my return to the Philippines. I think just part of the continuing process of strengthening our alliances," Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media Kyodo News.
"In this rather confusing, and I dare say dangerous situations that we have, I'm not talking only about the South China Sea; I'm not only talking about the Indo-Pacific region, but, of course, there is a conflict still ongoing in Ukraine and the rather disturbing effects that it has all around the world," he added.
The President said this is part of a "continuing and ongoing" process to make more solid partnerships and alliances that we are beginning to put together in our areas.
"So that is, I think, a central element to...providing some sort of stability in the face of all these problems that we are seeing around us," Marcos said.
President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio earlier agreed to bolster Manila and Tokyo's defense and security relations.
In a joint statement, the two Asian leaders agreed to "increase the defense capabilities of their own countries and further strengthen overall security cooperation."
This will be done through strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transferring more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment, and capacity building.