Philippines' Marcos in India as navies hold joint drills
The five-day visit follows the Philippines' acquisition of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system -- the first such export by New Delhi -- with deliveries beginning in April under a $375 million deal signed in 2022.
The visit comes as Indian Navy warships take part in patrols of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time.
The two-day sail includes three Indian vessels and started Sunday, a day before Marcos left on a trip that will include talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India's naval vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, arrived in Manila for a port visit late last week.
The patrol 'started yesterday afternoon, then it's ongoing up to this moment... the activity at the moment is replenishment at sea,' Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Salgado told AFP.
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