Philippines Signed Defence Deal with UAE and Japan

20 Januari 2026

MoU with UAE (infographic: DND)

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which seeks to deepen cooperation on advanced defense technologies, and strengthen the security relations between the two countries.

The MOU, signed in Abu Dhabi during the President's working visit to the UAE on January 12-14, 2026, will serve as a platform for collaboration on unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, and naval systems, in line with the ongoing capability development and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Anchored on the already robust people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the UAE, the agreement is also expected to bolster defense and military relations, through education and training, intelligence and security sharing, and cooperation in the fields of anti-terrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations.

Being the first formal defense agreement of the Philippines with a Gulf country, the MOU with the UAE is a testament to the Philippines' commitment to forging stronger partnerships to address matters of mutual interest. The Department of National Defense continues to work with like-minded partners in pursuit of regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity. (DND)

Agreement with UAE (infographic: DND)

Philippines and Japan Sign ACSA and Official Security Assistance for FY 2025

The Philippines and Japan marked a significant advancement in bilateral defense cooperation with the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Japan concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services (“Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement", or ACSA) and the exchange of notes on Official Security Assistance (OSA) for Japanese Fiscal Year 2025.

The ACSA establishes a legal framework to facilitate the reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces SDF). The Agreement is intended to enhance military interoperability and readiness, and to enable the more efficient conduct of joint exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, peacekeeping activities, and other mutually agreed engagements. The ACSA complements existing bilateral defense arrangements and contributes to deeper practical cooperation between the two countries.

On the same occasion, Japan confirmed the provision of Official Security Assistance Fiscal Year 2025, which will support the modernization and capacity-building efforts of the Philippine defense sector. This assistance includes infrastructure support under Japan's OSA framework, reinforcing the Philippines' ability to enhance maritime security and operational effectiveness. (DND)