Decoding Modi's Indo-Pacific Strategy: How Ties With Philippines Have Grown

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The timing of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's visit is significant, as the two countries conduct their first joint maritime exercise in the contested South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr arrived in India on Monday afternoon, commencing a landmark five-day state visit that exemplifies the transformation of India-Philippines relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita at Palam Air Force Station, Marcos's arrival coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties and marks the first visit by a Filipino president to India since 2007.
The timing is particularly significant, as Indian Navy warships conduct their first-ever joint maritime exercises with Philippine forces in the contested South China Sea.
This historic visit reflects Modi's outreach to the Philippines since 2014, focusing on a broader Indo-Pacific vision that combines economic partnerships with security cooperation, moving beyond traditional alliance structures to embrace strategic autonomy.
The bilateral relationship showcases Modi's multi-alignment strategy, demonstrating how maritime security cooperation, defence technology transfer, and trade expansion can advance India's pragmatic approach to regional leadership while maintaining strategic independence from great power rivalries.
Modi's announcement of the Act East Policy in November 2014 at Myanmar's ASEAN Summit marked a decisive shift in India's approach to Southeast Asia. Unlike the economically focused Look East Policy of 1992, the Act East framework embodied a comprehensive strategy encompassing security, defence, and strategic dimensions alongside commercial interests. This transformation proved particularly significant for the Philippines' relations, which had remained relatively dormant despite seven decades of diplomatic ties established in 1949.
The timing of this strategic pivot proved prescient. China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea created space for India to position itself as a balancing power committed to maritime security and a rules-based order. The Act East Policy enabled Modi to leverage India's growing economic strength and defence capabilities to establish meaningful partnerships with ASEAN nations, particularly those facing maritime security challenges.
The policy's implementation demonstrated Modi's understanding that effective regional leadership required moving beyond traditional diplomatic rhetoric to concrete action. The transformation from 'Look" to 'Act" signalled India's readiness to assume greater responsibilities in regional security architecture while maintaining its strategic autonomy. This approach laid the foundations for the comprehensive partnership now evident in Marcos's visit, where defence cooperation, economic integration, and strategic coordination converge in a single diplomatic engagement.
BREAKTHROUGH: THE 2017 MANILA VISIT
Modi's November 2017 visit to Manila was a watershed moment in bilateral relations, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Philippines in 36 years. The visit occurred during the 15th ASEAN-India Summit and 12th East Asia Summit, providing an optimal platform for Modi to demonstrate India's commitment to multilateral engagement.
The Manila visit served multiple strategic purposes. It reinforced India's position within ASEAN frameworks at a time when the grouping was celebrating its 50th anniversary and marking 25 years of ASEAN-India dialogue partnership. The visit enabled Modi to engage directly with the Philippines' leadership on shared concerns about maritime security and regional stability.
Modi's bilateral meeting with then-President Rodrigo Duterte established personal rapport between the leaders and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation across multiple sectors. The visit also included engagement with the Indian diaspora and business community, reflecting Modi's comprehensive approach to relationship-building that extends beyond government-to-government ties. Modi's presence in Manila alongside leaders from the United States, China, and Russia demonstrated India's emerging status as a major regional player capable of engaging multiple powers simultaneously.
THE BRAHMOS PARADIGM
The January 2022 BrahMos missile deal represents perhaps the most concrete manifestation of Modi's pragmatic approach to regional partnerships. The $375 million agreement made the Philippines India's first international customer for the advanced supersonic cruise missile system, marking a significant milestone in India's defence export ambitions. Marcos's current visit occurs as the Philippines signals interest in acquiring additional Indian defence systems, including more BrahMos batteries and Akash missile systems.
The BrahMos system's specifications — 290-km range, Mach 2.8 speed, and versatility across sea, land, and air platforms — provided the Philippines with a credible deterrent capability in the context of South China Sea tensions. For India, the deal demonstrated the maturation of its defence manufacturing capabilities and willingness to transfer advanced technology to strategic partners.
The first batch delivery in April 2024 via Indian Air Force transport aircraft was followed by the sea-based delivery of the second batch.
MARITIME SECURITY COOPERATION
The August 2025 joint naval exercises between India and the Philippines in the South China Sea marked a qualitative shift from diplomatic engagement to operational cooperation. The bilateral maritime cooperative activity, conducted near the strategically significant Scarborough Shoal, demonstrated both nations' commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and challenging assertive territorial claims. The exercises began just as Marcos departed Manila for Delhi.
Unlike previous Passing Exercises (PASSEX), the recent joint exercise demonstrated India's willingness to conduct operations in contested waters. The exercise also aligned with India's MAHASAGAR vision, which emphasises maritime cooperation as a cornerstone of regional stability. Moreover, the establishment of Track-1 Maritime Dialogue mechanisms and regular port visits by Indian naval vessels to the Philippines are signals of deeper institutionalised cooperation aimed at a long-term strategic partnership.
TRADE EXPANSION AND INVESTMENT
Modi's Philippines strategy achieved remarkable economic success, with bilateral trade growing from $1.89 billion in 2015-16 to $3.53 billion in 2023-24—an 86.6% increase. India maintains a consistent trade surplus, exporting $2.10 billion whilst importing $1.43 billion in 2023-24. Key sectors include pharmaceuticals, where India supplies 12-16% of Philippine imports, plus engineering goods and automotive components.
Investment depth reflects genuine integration. Indian companies, including TCS, Infosys, and major pharmaceutical firms, established significant Philippine operations worth $5 billion. Philippine companies like AC Energy reciprocated with strategic Indian investments. Marcos's visit agenda includes business meetings in Delhi and Bengaluru, targeting further expansion.
REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT
India's humanitarian aid during Philippine natural disasters, COVID-19 assistance, and capacity-building through the ITEC programme—training over 1,000 Filipino professionals—reflects comprehensive engagement. Cultural ties include 8,800 Indian students in Philippine medical colleges and a 70,000-strong diaspora.
The Philippines' role as ASEAN-India Dialogue Coordinator (2024-2027) provides Modi a crucial partner for advancing regional agendas. This coincides with India's 2026 BRICS chairmanship, creating multilateral cooperation opportunities. Modi's ASEAN engagement during Brazil's BRICS Summit, including FTA discussions with Malaysia's Prime Minister, demonstrated this approach.
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President Marcos Jr's arrival today, accompanied by joint South China Sea naval exercises, represents the culmination of Modi's systematic India-Philippines transformation since 2014. From the Act East Policy announcement to a comprehensive partnership worth over $3.5 billion annually, this relationship exemplifies strategic autonomy in practice.
The BrahMos deal, trade expansion, and naval cooperation demonstrate how shared strategic interests translate into concrete partnerships enhancing both nations' security and prosperity. As Indian warships patrol contested waters alongside Philippine forces whilst leaders chart new cooperation pathways, this approach reflects Modi's understanding that effective 21st-century regional leadership requires balanced relationships, pursuing national interests through mutually beneficial partnerships rather than zero-sum competition.
About the Author
Sohil Sinha
Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects.
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the philippines
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New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
August 05, 2025, 08:00 IST
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