Japan to Join Salaknib 2025 Military Exercises with Philippines and US
MANILA – Japan will participate in the 2025 iteration of “Salaknib,” the annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States, a Philippine Army (PA) official announced Tuesday. this marks the frist time Japan will join the exercise [[1]].
According to PA spokesperson Col. louie Dema-ala, the participation was confirmed during initial planning conferences [[1]]. the reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, which will formally take effect on September 11, is expected to enhance interoperability between the two nations’ militaries and strengthen their collective response to regional challenges [[1]].
While the exact number of Japanese participants for “Salaknib” 2025 remains undetermined, Col. Dema-ala indicated that planning is currently focused on the exercise itself rather than specific participant numbers [[1]]. Australia is also anticipated to have a more active role in the 2026 iteration of the exercise [[1]].
“Salaknib,” meaning “shield” in Ilocano, reflects the longstanding alliance between the Philippines and the United States, rooted in their shared history during World War II [[1]]. The exercise, which began in 2016, aims to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation between the armed forces of both countries [[1]],
