President Marcos, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will discuss regional and global developments as they are set to talk by phone over the weekend.
The three leaders will also talk about economic matters, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
DFA on Thursday night, Jan. 9, confirmed the upcoming meeting among Marcos, Biden and Ishiba and disclosed topics they are set to tackle on Jan. 12 as alliance among their countries continue to bolster.
"They are expected to discuss the progress made on the Philippines-Japan-US Trilateral Cooperation since the historic leaders’ meeting on 11 April 2024 in Washington D.C.," DFA said.
There will be no joint statement to be issued, but separate press releases will be made, said the DFA.
It was in April 2024 when the three leaders last met at the White House to review their alliance. There, Marcos, Biden and then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a trilateral partnership among the three countries.
The move was made as the three leaders aimed to safeguard their peoples at sea, expressing concern about China’s dangerous and coercive actions both in the South and the East China Seas.
Marcos, Biden and Kishida said that their nations’ Coast Guards will collaborate even further within the next year "to improve interoperability and advance maritime security and safety."
They said they will advance their defense trilateral cooperation through combined naval training and exercises among themselves and with other partners, among others.
Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Manila
On the other hand, DFA also announced on Friday, Jan. 10., the upcoming visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi to Manila upon the invitation of DFA Sec. Enrique Manalo.
DFA said Manalo and Iwaya will discuss political, defense, security, economic and development cooperation, as well as other areas of mutual concern.
They will likewise exchange views on regional and international developments, the DFA added.
"Amidst an increasingly complex security environment, they are expected to reaffirm the mutual commitment to further enhancing the ‘Strengthened Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries and to seize new opportunities for cooperation," DFA said.
"In July 2024, they signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which will firmly contribute towards maintaining a secure and peaceful Asia-Pacific," it added.