India and the Philippines on Tuesday announced the establishment of a Strategic Partnership during a State Visit by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to India, marking a significant step toward deepening bilateral cooperation. The announcement was made following bilateral talks between President Marcos and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who outlined a comprehensive Plan of Action (2025-2029) to guide the partnership.
President Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation, including cabinet ministers and business leaders, arrived in India on August 4. On August 5, he was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. The visit included a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi, a call on President Droupadi Murmu, and a banquet in his honour. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met President Marcos, who is scheduled to visit Bengaluru.
Celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations, the leaders reaffirmed the deep friendship rooted in mutual respect, trust, shared values, and cultural ties since 1949. They emphasized the importance of the 1952 Treaty of Friendship and subsequent agreements, aiming to elevate bilateral ties through enhanced cooperation in political, defence, security, maritime, trade, investment, science, technology, health, agriculture, digital technologies, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Strategic Partnership seeks to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in both nations and the Indo-Pacific region, with a strong commitment to ASEAN Centrality. Both countries expressed support for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, adhering to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and underscored the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea as a basis for peacefully resolving disputes.
The leaders agreed to strengthen political engagement through regular high-level exchanges, including the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation and Strategic Dialogue, and to foster cooperation across sectors via existing agreements and new MoUs. Defence and security collaboration will be enhanced through institutional mechanisms like the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee, focusing on defence technology, training, and maritime security, including joint efforts in shipbuilding, coastal surveillance, and humanitarian assistance.
Economic cooperation will focus on boosting bilateral trade, which reached USD 3.3 billion in 2024-25, and concluding a Preferential Trade Agreement. The partnership will also promote collaboration in renewable energy, critical minerals, digital technologies, and infrastructure development. Science and technology cooperation will include joint research in space, nuclear energy, and agriculture, while connectivity initiatives will enhance air, maritime, and digital linkages.
Both nations committed to fostering cultural and people-to-people ties through expanded cultural exchanges, tourism, and educational programmes like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). They also agreed to deepen cooperation in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, to address global issues like climate change, counter-terrorism, and sustainable development, with India supporting the Philippines’ participation in initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and the Voice of the Global South Summit.
