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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
April 19, 2026 | 12:00am
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala, said the two military leaders exchanged views on the regional security environment, and shared their understanding of the current status and future direction of Japan-Philippines defense cooperation and exchanges.
Civil Relations Service Armed Forces of the Philippines Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Reaffirming strong defense cooperation between the two ground forces, Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete engaged in high-level talks with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Chief of Staff, Gen. Arai Masayoshi, on Tuesday.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala, said the two military leaders exchanged views on the regional security environment, and shared their understanding of the current status and future direction of Japan-Philippines defense cooperation and exchanges.
During the discussion via video teleconference, both reaffirmed the importance of communication at all levels, including high-level engagements, and agreed on strengthening cooperation through joint training opportunities and collaboration in multi-layered areas, including defense equipment and technology cooperation.
Dema-ala said the high-level meeting builds on Nafarrete’s bilateral meeting with Masayoshi at the Ground Staff Office in Ichigaya, Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 16 last year, after meeting at the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) in September.
He noted that the JGSDF has also sent a delegation to actively participate for the first time in the “Exercise Salaknib” that traditionally sees Filipino and American ground troops training together in a range of warfighting functions.
Dema-ala declared that the Philippine Army is sustaining its defense cooperation and exchanges with the JGSDF, as well as with armies from like-minded nations, amid the rapidly changing regional and global security landscape.
Last week, the Philippine Army and the Philippine Marine Corps likewise participated in the 8th Staff Talks with the JGSDF held at Camp Ichigaya in Tokyo, Japan.
During the talks, Dema-ala said key staff officers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Marine Corps, and the JGSDF discussed the future direction of defense cooperation and exchanges.
