India, Philippines seal strategic partnership to boost Indo-Pacific ties. Know more

India Today

8 hours ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, a defining leap in ties beyond mere goodwill.The agreement spans trade, maritime cooperation, tech, tourism, culture, space, and digital, alongside a strong dose of defense and security.MARITIME MOMENTUMFor the first time, Indian and Philippine navies conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea, a strategic show of operational synergy and shared commitment to maritime norms.advertisement
India deployed warships to Southeast Asia, with three arriving at the Philippines, underscoring its growing regional naval outreach.The Philippines secured BrahMos missile systems from India and is now looking to acquire even more. Both countries are in talks on developing submarine infrastructure, hinting at future undersea collaboration.STRATEGIC UNDERPINNINGSThis shift marks a symbolic and practical move, India stepping decisively into the South China Sea, a region traditionally deemed China's strategic 'backyard.' The partnership emphasises adherence to a rules-based international order, echoing the 2016 UNCLOS arbitral tribunal ruling that challenged China's 'ninedash line.'India and the Philippines are moving from diplomacy to operational alignment, from treaties to tangible naval drills and defense production.WHY IT MATTERS?1. Vindicates India's ActEast trajectory, from economic outreach to maritime muscle.2. Deepens Philippines' strategic palette, establishing ties beyond US alliance dynamics.3. Signals regional recalibration, a clear message to all IndoPacific players, especially in light of rising strategic friction.In crisp, no fluff terms, India and the Philippines just turned up the heat not with rhetoric, but with naval sails, tech-sharing, and strategic choreography. Their new accord isn't just a declaration, it's a regional pivot, alive and evolving.- Ends