The Philippines and Japan have taken a major step in strengthening their defense partnership with the signing of a key logistics agreement and the confirmation of Japanese security assistance, underscoring deepening strategic ties between the two countries, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Friday.

On 15 January, the two countries signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), formally known as the Agreement concerning the Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services, during a ceremony in Manila. 

The agreement establishes a legal framework that will allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to exchange supplies and services during joint activities and operations.

According to the Department of National Defense (DND), the ACSA is designed to enhance military interoperability and readiness, and to support the more efficient conduct of joint exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, peacekeeping operations, and other mutually agreed engagements. 

The pact complements existing bilateral defense arrangements and further deepens practical cooperation between the two allies.

At the same event, Japan also confirmed the provision of Official Security Assistance (OSA) for Japanese Fiscal Year 2025. 

The assistance will support the Philippines’ defense modernization and capacity-building efforts, including infrastructure support under Japan’s OSA framework. 

The DND said this will help strengthen the country’s maritime security capabilities and overall operational effectiveness.

Both governments emphasized that the signing of the ACSA and the exchange of notes on OSA reflect their shared commitment to promoting regional peace and stability, as well as upholding a rules-based international order. The agreements also highlight the growing level of strategic trust between the Philippines and Japan, which have long-standing diplomatic and security ties.

During the signing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the agreement concerning the reciprocal provision of supplies and services between AFP and JSDF will “enhance their mutual military interoperability and readiness—complementary to the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).

Lazaro said both countries have also exchanged notes for the official security assistance from Japan for the Japanese fiscal year 2025, amounting to 200 million Japanese yen, approximately 341 million pesos, in support of the Philippines' initiative to modernize the capabilities of the AFP. 

She noted that the milestone comes as the two nations commemorate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, marking decades of cooperation and signaling their resolve to further expand defense and security collaboration in the years ahead.

“The signing of these agreements reflects the close and evolving collaboration between the Philippines and Japan under our strengthened strategic partnership and support to ongoing collaboration across priority areas of the relationship,” Lazaro emphasized. 

The Foreign Affairs chief cited Japan as “a vital strategic partner of the Philippines.”

“Our relationship will continue to be bound by shared values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in our region,” she added.