India, Philippines cement a new chapter during Marcos visit

India and the Philippines formally elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a historic upgrade in bilateral ties during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day state visit to India.

The move, announced after delegation-level talks in Delhi, comes as the two democracies deepen cooperation across defense, trade, maritime security, and digital transformation, with a shared focus on maintaining a rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Calling it “a historic day in our bilateral relations,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the elevation was backed by a Plan of Action for 2025–29, laying out sectoral priorities for the years ahead.

President Marcos, in his remarks, said, “This partnership will doubtless resonate beyond the confines of our bilateral relationship and towards our mutual pursuit of regional peace and prosperity.”

The visit, which began on 4 August, opened with full ceremonial honors at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a solemn tribute at Raj Ghat. From there, President Marcos and his delegation, comprising cabinet officials, defense representatives, and business leaders, entered straight into back-to-back engagements with their Indian counterparts.

The strategic upgrade was not just symbolic.

On 4 August, Indian and Philippine naval vessels conducted their first joint sail in the South China Sea, inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to the Philippine military.

Philippine Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner said the exercise went “smoothly,” despite being shadowed by Chinese vessels.

The Philippines showed interest in expanding its maritime infrastructure partnerships, including in submarine capabilities. However, no specific agreements were announced.

On defense procurement, according to the Philippine News Agency, discussions included Manila’s interest in acquiring additional BrahMos supersonic cruise missile batteries, Akash air-defense systems, and Dhruv helicopters.

While no defense contracts were signed during the visit, both sides agreed to scale up joint military training and defense dialogue.

Economic cooperation received a boost as well.

Both countries committed to doubling bilateral trade, currently around $3.5 billion, by 2030.

Fast-tracking the review of the India–Asean Free Trade Agreement and pursuing a preferential trade arrangement were high on the agenda.

Agreements were signed in areas like digital public infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, green energy, and cyber resilience.

Modi emphasized India’s readiness to support Philippine-led initiatives in AI, food security, and biotechnology, particularly in the face of emerging Indo-Pacific cybersecurity challenges.

The people-to-people announcements drew attention, too.

From August, Indian tourists will enjoy visa-free entry to the Philippines, while India will extend e-visa facilities to Filipino nationals.

“This reciprocal gesture is more than convenience. It’s a message that we welcome each other’s people,” Marcos said.

A direct flight between Delhi and Manila, expected to launch by year-end, was also announced to promote tourism and business links.

A commemorative stamp marking 75 years of diplomatic relations was unveiled.

India reiterated its commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. While not naming the ruling directly, this aligns with the Philippines’ stance on the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal decision against China’s maritime claims.

As the visit concluded, President Marcos described it as having “yielded concrete results” and serving as “a new foundation for mutual trust, shared ambition, and regional cooperation.”