The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today that the inaugural Japan-U.S.-Philippines Maritime Consultation will take place in Tokyo on December 10, marking a significant step in trilateral maritime cooperation amid escalating regional security concerns.
The consultation, chaired by Japan’s Ryo Nakamura, Director-General for Southeast Asian Affairs, will include senior officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Secretariat, Ministry of Defense, and Coast Guard.
Representing the United States will be Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director, alongside officials from the Departments of State, Defense, and Coast Guard.
The Philippine delegation, led by Undersecretary Maria Theresa P. Lazaro of the Department of Foreign Affairs, will include representatives from the National Security Council, Coast Guard, and Department of Defense.
This meeting follows a series of bilateral consultations, including the U.S.-Philippines Maritime Consultation on October 24 and the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue on December 3.
The trilateral platform was agreed upon during the Japan-Philippines-U.S. Summit in April 2024, reflecting shared interests in safeguarding maritime security and fostering a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
The agenda will cover critical regional developments, particularly in the South China Sea, and explore coordinated efforts to enhance maritime domain awareness, law enforcement capabilities, and defense cooperation.
The discussions are expected to solidify a unified stance against illegal and coercive activities in the region.
This upcoming consultation coincides with heightened security vigilance following the November 28 sighting of a Russian Kilo II-class submarine within Philippine waters near Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro.
The incident underscores the importance of collaborative maritime efforts among allied nations in ensuring stability and freedom of navigation in contested waters.
The trilateral meeting is anticipated to strengthen partnerships among Japan, the United States, and the Philippines as maritime democracies connected by the Pacific Ocean, paving the way for more cohesive responses to shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
This historic first consultation aims to further institutionalize trilateral maritime cooperation, ensuring a free, open, and secure maritime order in the region.
