Japanese troops will join the Philippines and the United States (US) in this year’s Salaknib war games for the first time, marking a step in deepening defense ties following the implementation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).

Around 300 soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are set to participate in the April leg of the annual Salaknib exercise alongside the Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC).

“Salaknib is basically a United States-Philippines bilateral exercise. For the coming Salaknib… 300 troops from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces will take part in these various trainings,” Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said during a press briefing on Monday.

The Army chief said the drills will focus on infantry combined arms operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, expanding the scope of cooperation beyond traditional combat training.

The 2026 iteration of Salaknib exercises will be held in two phases: the first from April to May, and the second after the annual Balikatan exercises in June.

This year’s exercise is expected to involve 4,000 to 5,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Training activities will primarily take place in Northern Luzon, particularly at Fort Magsaysay.

Salaknib, a long-running bilateral drill between Manila and Washington, is aimed at enhancing defense readiness, strengthening tactical interoperability, and reinforcing institutional partnerships. Military officials have described the alliance as one rooted in trust, shared capability development, and collective defense.

For Nafarrete, Japan’s participation signals a new layer of strategic coordination in the region.

“It is more on knowing our interoperability with the Japanese Army. This is the first time. Knowing your friend,” he said.

With Japan now entering the fold, Salaknib is no longer just a bilateral engagement but an expanding platform for like-minded allies seeking to boost cooperation amid evolving regional security challenges.