What to expect from Philippines, US, Japan’s first trilateral summit

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, Japan, and the United States are set to hold their first-ever trilateral leaders’ summit on April 11, but what should the public expect?

Ahead of the historic meeting, the US Department of State’s National Security Council gave a preview of what could be announced by the nations’ leaders following the summit.

READ: PH, Japan, US to hold first ever trilateral leaders’ summit on April 11

“Since the beginning of this administration, our theory of the case for the Indo-Pacific has been that we would reinvest in and modernize our alliances and partnerships, and when we did, our allies and partners would seek to step up alongside us.  And we have seen that theory of the case proven many times over,” said top White House advisor Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper in a press briefing on Wednesday (Philippine time).

“We are indeed not taking any of these actions alone, but in every case in close partnership with our allies and partners within the region and beyond,” she added.

Rapp-Hooper said the US, Japan, and the Philippines’ visions are intertwined, adding that the “new era” or trilateral cooperation is guided by an “unwavering commitment” to a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

According to her, the “trilateral format” was actually made by the three nations’ national security advisors who “met for the first time in Tokyo in 2023.”

“Out of that June 2023 meeting, they identified a few critical areas of cooperation amongst the United States, Japan, and the Philippines that our leaders will be taking to new heights later this week,” she said.

Enhanced security, economic, maritime cooperation

As stated by Rapp-Hooper, below are some of what can be “announced” following the summit set to be attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida:

• New initiatives to enhance energy security, economic and maritime cooperation
• Partnerships in technology and cybersecurity
• Some considerable joint investments in major infrastructure areas

“Our three countries will embark on this new era of trilateral cooperation as equal partners, guided by a shared vision and unwavering commitment to a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she added.

‘An important state visit’

Ahead of the trilateral summit, Rapp-Hooper said Biden is set to welcome Kishida for an “important” official visit on April 10.

During the official state visit, the two leaders are set to discuss efforts to “bolster defense and security cooperation.”

Rapp-Hooper said “important deliverables on civil space cooperation” as well as “major research partnerships” between the US and Japan’s leading institutions would also be tackled, among others.