President Marcos meets Japan defense chief amid security concerns

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, as the Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their growing strategic and defense partnership.

The courtesy call coincided with Japan’s participation in Exercise Balikatan 41-2026, where around 1,400 personnel from the Japan Self-Defense Forces joined expanded multilateral military drills alongside Filipino and American troops.

Marcos welcomed Japan’s involvement in the exercises, noting it marked the first time Japan joined military drills overseas.

“It is a very, very good signal for the solidarity [and] the exercises have been going very well,” Marcos said.

Among the Philippine officials present during the meeting were Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr., and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Ramon Ilagan.

Joining Koizumi were Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Admiral Saito Akira, Ministry of Defense Bureau of Defense Policy Director General Mannami Manabu, and Director General for International Affairs Arima Takanori.

The meeting highlighted both countries’ commitment to expanding defense cooperation, strengthening maritime security, and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two sides also discussed Marcos’ upcoming state visit to Japan later this month, which will coincide with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.

-Paraluman News