BrahMos, naval drills and a strategic pact: PM Modi pitches defence as the bedrock of India-Philippines deep mutual ties

Economic Times

2 days ago

Synopsis
India and the Philippines have upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, putting defence and maritime cooperation front and centre. Prime Minister Modi and President Marcos Jr held detailed talks in Delhi, covering weapons procurement, naval exercises, and shared regional concerns in the South China Sea. The visit also marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Six new agreements are in the pipeline, and India will boost its development projects in the Philippines while exploring deeper trade and digital cooperation.
Agencies Defence topped the agenda as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met in New Delhi on Tuesday, confirming a major upgrade in their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. 'Strengthening defence relations are a symbol of deep mutual trust,' said Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House after their talks.For the first time, three Indian Navy ships are currently taking part in exercises in Philippine waters. This marks a significant expansion of India's security presence in the Indo-Pacific, and a tangible response to the region's growing tensions.'Today, when the President is in India, three ships of the Indian Navy are participating in a naval exercise in the Philippines for the first time,' Modi noted.President Marcos' five-day visit comes as the Philippines strengthens its defence partnerships to counter Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. Speaking earlier at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Marcos said, 'Indo Pacific is the correct evolution of Asia Pacific.'The phrase reflects a shift in Manila's foreign policy thinking, increasingly aligned with like-minded democracies in the region, including India.
Ahead of the visit, General Romeo Brawner, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, confirmed that Manila is eyeing more defence purchases from India.The BrahMos missile system, co-developed by India and Russia, is already on order, with two more sets expected to arrive in the Philippines over the next few years. Brawner pointed to India's quality and affordability as key reasons for expanding military cooperation.India has also offered a concessional Line of Credit to help fund future defence acquisitions. Talks between Modi and Marcos also covered expansion of joint training, naval asset acquisition, and maritime security exercises.India and the Philippines are due to conduct a joint naval patrol in the South China Sea this week, signalling stronger strategic alignment. Both sides continue to urge China to abide by the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated its broad claims in the region.'It is a matter of pleasure that today we have decided to elevate our relations to the status of a Strategic Partnership,' said Modi, calling the decision a major step forward.'A comprehensive Action Plan has also been formulated to translate the potential of this partnership into results,' he added.President Marcos, who arrived on August 4 with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and several Cabinet ministers, received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.'A special welcome for a special partner!' the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X. A Guard of Honour was presented before formal discussions began.This is Marcos' first visit to India since taking office in 2022, and it coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.In a personal note, Modi expressed appreciation for Manila's support following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.'To strongly condemn the Pahalgam terrorist attack and for standing with us in our fight against terrorism, we express our gratitude to the Government of the Philippines and its President,' he said.The two leaders also discussed broader regional and global developments, agreeing on the importance of peaceful cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical climate.Alongside defence, India pledged to scale up development efforts under its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) scheme.'I am pleased to say that under the Development Partnership, we will increase the number of Quick Impact Projects in the Philippines,' Modi said.The projects target areas such as disaster management, agriculture, healthcare, and livelihood support, with six already underway under a 2023 MoU.Modi also confirmed India will help build a sovereign data cloud infrastructure in the Philippines to support digital independence and cybersecurity.'And we will also cooperate in the development of sovereign data cloud infrastructure in the Philippines,' he added.Bilateral trade has crossed the 3 billion dollar mark for the first time, and both countries have now agreed to begin formal negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement.Trade, however, hasn't been smooth sailing. The US has imposed 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods and 19 percent on Philippine products. Delhi and Manila are now exploring joint approaches to navigate future global trade disruptions.According to the Ministry of External Affairs, six new agreements covering science and technology, law, and culture are expected to be signed during this visit.Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, summed up the visit in a post on X:'India and the Philippines share close bonds based on the foundation of our civilisational, historical and people-to-people connections. Comprehensive discussions aimed at further cementing our enduring friendship and strong bilateral relations lie ahead.'President Marcos' visit ends on August 8. The direction of travel is clear: deeper ties, shared risks, and a growing understanding that defence and diplomacy must now go hand in hand.