Joe Biden and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to new defense guidelines, while Washington also clarified that mutual defense obligations would cover the South China Sea.
The practice of having the two neighbors' leaders visit their respective countries has been effectively halted since December 2011 due to soured ties.
A summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could help pave the way for a reported tripartite defense framework with Tokyo.
The George Washington, which was deployed to Japan from 2008-2015 until it was replaced by the Ronald Reagan, will be returning after a complex overhaul in the U.S.
The pledge will be part of a new agreement — the Washington Declaration — that also creates a fresh bilateral nuclear consultation mechanism based on U.S.-European Cold War-era frameworks.
The two-day trip by the Florida governor was seen as an attempt to bolster his defense and diplomatic chops before throwing his hat into the ring.
Experts say the order to shoot down any falling North Korean rocket components is more about reassuring a nervous public than actually intercepting them.
Observers say that attempting to intercept a North Korean missile or rocket carrying a satellite set to fall in Japanese territory could open up the possibility of escalation.
A joint statement was used to emphasize their unity in tackling geopolitical challenges including Chinese assertiveness over Taiwan and the ongoing Ukraine war.
Top diplomats from Group of Seven countries have telegraphed what is likely to be in a joint statement, with officials stressing the importance of unity amid challenges in Asia.
