Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Gen. Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff, Japan Joint Staff (JJS), held the fourth AFP-JJS-USINDOPACOM Trilateral Leaders' Engagement on the margins of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ 20th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Organized by Centino and the Philippines, the meeting focused on the leaders’ shared perspective on regional issues and enhanced collaboration on trilateral opportunities while promoting maritime security cooperation.

Aquilino reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to expanding cooperation between the United States and its allies to address regional security issues, deter unlawful maritime activities, and support the use of international law to resolve disputes in the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders discussed the importance of expanding multilateral activities and the significant potential for enhancing Philippines-Japan-U.S. cooperation.  They also reiterated the importance of increasing defense capabilities and mutual security cooperation to the benefit of all Pacific nations.

This engagement is another demonstration of the strength of our alliances which underpin the security of a free and open Indo-Pacific.