President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said that security cooperation is expected to be a key agenda during his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi next week.

“I expect that we will be talking about many things, but of course, security cooperation will be a very important part of that discussion,” Marcos said in an interview with the Japanese media in Malacañang prior to his State Visit to Japan on May 26.

“First of all, what we have agreed upon is the reciprocal access agreement, for example, and the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement that was signed last January. We want, I’m sure, we are going to discuss those to fully implement those agreements,” the President added.

Japan’s new approach to security and defense, especially in the region, will also be brought up in the discussion to clarify things in terms of further cooperation and assistance, not only to the Philippines, but to ASEAN as well, the President said.

Japan taking an active role for the first time in the Balikatan exercises this year is a significant development in the continuing cooperation and training of personnel for better interoperability, President Marcos noted.

Also part of the discussions will be the assistance the Philippines is receiving from Japan for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the President said.

And it’s not just Japan’s new approach to export weaponry, but also its official security assistance to the Philippines, such as radar and support systems, information and technology sharing, as well as personnel training.

The President also pointed out that there are many areas that need to be explored based on the two nations’ shared values concerning adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS. Presidential News Desk