Philippines, India elevate ties to strategic partnership in state visit marking 75 years of relations — Dateline Philippines

NEW DELHI — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concluded a five-day state visit to India on Friday with the signing of a Strategic Partnership agreement and a package of defense, maritime, space, and technology accords that both governments say will guide cooperation through 2029.

The upgrade, announced after Marcos’s Aug. 5 talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two democracies.

“We are committed to peace, security, prosperity and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region,” Modi said in a joint appearance.

“This Strategic Partnership will doubtless resonate beyond the confines of our bilateral relationship,” Marcos said.

Defense and maritime cooperation

The List of Outcomes released by both sides includes Terms of Reference for Army-to-Army, Air Force-to-Air Force, and Coast Guard consultations, formalizing previously ad hoc exchanges. The two governments also discussed Indian assistance for developing submarine infrastructure in the Philippines, alongside Manila’s ongoing acquisition of the Indian-made BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.

The announcement followed the two countries’ first joint naval exercise in the South China Sea earlier in the week, an activity that drew objections from Beijing. Philippine defense officials said Chinese vessels shadowed the ships but there were no incidents.

Expanding to space and digital infrastructure

Beyond security, the visit yielded a Statement of Intent between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite applications and capacity building.

An MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Digital Technologies will link the two nations on digital public infrastructure— a field where India has built global recognition through its unified payments interface, digital identity, and e-governance platforms.

Economic engagement in Bengaluru

On Aug. 7, Marcos traveled to Bengaluru, India’s technology hub, to meet business leaders and state officials. At the India–Philippines Business Forum, Philippine officials announced 18 business agreements spanning IT-BPM services, telecommunications, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and renewable energy.

Marcos cited the Philippines’ economic reforms, digitalization drive, and young, English-speaking workforce as advantages for Indian investors.

The visit at a glance

The five-day state visit began on Aug. 4 with Marcos’s arrival in New Delhi. On Aug. 5, he received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, laid a wreath at Raj Ghat, held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi, and witnessed the announcement of the Strategic Partnership along with the exchange of agreements. The following day, Aug. 6, Marcos met separately with President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. On Aug. 7, he traveled to Bengaluru for a business forum and investment meetings. The visit concluded on Aug. 8 with his departure from India.

Broader context

The Strategic Partnership and accompanying agreements place India among Manila’s most formalized security and economic partners in the Indo-Pacific. For New Delhi, the visit advances its “Act East” policy and builds on its growing defense exports and cooperative initiatives with Southeast Asian nations.

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