Asia Defense | Security | East Asia

Japan to Send Combat Units to Philippines-US Balikatan Exercises for the First Time

The move represents a historic shift in Japan’s security engagement with Southeast Asia – and Manila specifically.

U.S. Army Soldiers board a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during helocast training at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 30, 2025 as part of Exercise Balikatan 25.

Japan will deploy combat-capable units to participate in the upcoming Philippines-U.S. “Balikatan” military exercises, marking the first time since World War II that Japanese combat troops will set foot on Philippine soil. The move represents a historic shift in Japan’s security engagement with Southeast Asia and highlights the rapidly deepening defense ties between Tokyo and Manila amid rising regional tensions. 

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. revealed the plan during a symposium held in Manila on March 24. According to Brawner, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are expected to send combat-capable units to the annual Balikatan exercise scheduled to begin on April 20. 

“Eighty-one years later, this is the first time we will have Japanese combat troops again on Philippine soil,” Brawner said. “Before, we were on opposite sides. This time, we find ourselves on the same side.” 

On March 26, a spokesperson for Japan’s Joint Staff confirmed to The Diplomat that units from the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces will participate in the exercise. Tokyo is expected to release further details about the size of the deployment and the specific training activities in mid-April, the spokesperson added. 

Balikatan – meaning “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino – is the largest annual joint military exercise conducted by the United States and the Philippines. The drills typically involve a wide range of activities, including maritime security, amphibious operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. This year’s iteration is expected to be among the largest ever conducted. 

Japan’s expanded role in Balikatan follows the start of enforcement in September 2025 of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). The agreement simplifies procedures for the deployment of troops and military equipment between the two countries for joint exercises, training, and disaster response.

Until recently, Japanese participation in exercises in the Philippines had been limited largely to observers or personnel involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training. According to officials, Japanese units in Balikatan 2026 will now participate in training scenarios involving defensive operations while carrying weapons, representing a significant departure from previous roles.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya suggested at the same forum that the SDF’s involvement could expand further in the future, describing deeper participation as a natural development given the growing security cooperation between the two countries.

The upcoming Balikatan exercises will involve not only the United States and the Philippines but also participation from Japan and Australia, reflecting a broader shift toward multilateral defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Brawner emphasized that Japan’s participation will significantly expand the scope of the........

© The Diplomat