Philippines continues to 'build on' trilateral ties with Japan, US—Marcos
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro at the Malacañan Palace on May 5, 2026. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Marcos told Japanese officials that the Philippines will continue to build on the trilateral ties it established with Japan and the United States.
In his meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, May 5, Marcos reaffirmed Manila's commitment to the trilateral agreement.
Despite Washington's ongoing global concerns, Marcos said Manila and Tokyo can continue to strengthen their relationship.
"Now, the United States has other concerns right now, but I think between Japan and the Philippines, we continue to strengthen that relationship and to add on to what we have initially discussed in terms of the arrangement," Marcos said during the meeting.
Marcos highlighted that the agreement deals not only with defense and security but also with other aspects.
Marcos, US President Joe Biden, and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participated in a trilateral summit in Washington, DC, on April 11, 2024.
During the summit, they reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, guided by the values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
The President also thanked the Japanese government for its participation in this year's Balikatan exercises.
According to Malacañang, the Defense Minister is in the country to witness the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in Exercise Balikatan 41-2026 of the Philippines and the United States.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the visit "symbolizes the strong relations between the two countries."