Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed his readiness to work with India towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. He commended the rapid progress of the Philippines’ ongoing defence modernisation and praised India’s expanding indigenous defence capabilities, particularly the BrahMos missile project.
Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Marcos said the two nations had agreed to strengthen naval and coast guard interoperability through increased port calls, cooperative activities, and maritime capacity building.
“We agreed to continue elevating our collaboration in defence and security. We expressed satisfaction over the rapid pace of the Philippines’ ongoing defence modernisation and India’s expanding indigenous defence capabilities — exemplified by our BrahMos project,” he said. “We concurred that this should be accompanied by intensified dialogue and exchanges between our defence establishments. To that end, we have agreed to establish mechanisms for service-to-service talks, information sharing, and training exchanges between our militaries.”
Marcos added that both countries aim to deepen economic engagement by expediting work on a bilateral preferential trade agreement and encouraging mutual investments. “Our fast-growing and innovative private enterprises will play a key role in this effort — promoting innovation, technology transfer, upskilling, and job creation for our people,” he said.
The President also thanked the Indian Navy for rescuing Filipino citizens during a Houthi rebel attack in 2024, calling it a demonstration of India’s growing influence and role as a first responder in the region. “We recognise India’s leadership and want to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
He expressed full solidarity with India over the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and lauded India’s progress under PM Modi’s leadership.
“As emissaries of our people, I bring with me the enduring friendship of the Filipino nation. I carry the message of our solidarity with India over the Pahalgam attack and in the broader fight against terrorism,” he said. “Despite these challenges, I also bring congratulations for India’s remarkable transformation and its vision to become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.”
Marcos noted that India is now the Philippines’ fifth strategic partner — a significant milestone that highlights the rapid growth and deepening of the bilateral relationship.
“The Philippines-India strategic partnership will resonate beyond our bilateral ties,” he said. “PM Modi and I are committed to addressing shared concerns such as maritime security, rule of law, supply chain resilience, food security, counter-terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats.”
He also thanked India for its support on peaceful dispute resolution and adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitration ruling on the South China Sea.
“This is a crucial moment in our bilateral partnership,” he said. “Today, our relationship enters a new epoch as Prime Minister Modi and I formally launch the Philippines-India strategic partnership — a momentous decision that reflects our 75-year-old relationship and shared vision for the future.”
— IANS
