In early August 2025, the streets of New Delhi buzzed with anticipation as Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived for a five-day state visit, marking a pivotal moment in India-Philippines relations. The visit, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, wasn’t just a ceremonial affair. It was a bold step toward cementing a strategic partnership that reflects shared ambitions, mutual respect, and a growing urgency to address regional challenges—particularly the shadow cast by China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Marcos at Hyderabad House, the air was thick with the promise of deeper collaboration, from defense to trade to maritime security. This wasn’t just a handshake between two leaders; it was a signal to the region that India and the Philippines are aligning more closely than ever.
A Friendship Rooted in History
Indiand the Philippines have shared a bond since November 26, 1949, when formal diplomatic relations were established, just years after both nations gained independence. Rooted in shared democratic values, cultural ties, and a commitment to a rules-based international order, their relationship has evolved steadily. Over the decades, high-level exchanges have kept the momentum alive. From Modi’s meeting with then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2014 to Marcos Jr.’s brief encounter with Modi at the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos in October 2024, these interactions have built a foundation of trust. But it’s the recent visit of Marcos to India that has truly elevated this partnership to new heights.
The announcement of a strategic partnership during Marcos’s visit on August 5, 2025, was a landmark moment. Modi, standing alongside Marcos, declared, “We have decided to take our relations to the level of strategic partnership. A comprehensive action plan is also being made to transform this partnership into results.” This wasn’t just rhetoric. The two nations signed 13 agreements, including three in the defense sector, signaling a commitment to deepen cooperation in areas critical to both countries’ security and prosperity.
Why Now? The China Factor
The timing of this strategic partnership is no coincidence. Both India and the Philippines face mounting pressures from China’s growing assertiveness. For the Philippines, the South China Sea is a flashpoint. China’s expansive claims, militarization of artificial islands, and harassment of Filipino fishermen and coast guard vessels have escalated tensions, particularly near the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a military outpost. The 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which invalidated China’s claims, remains a cornerstone of Manila’s stance, yet Beijing continues to ignore it.
India, too, has its own challenges with China, particularly along the disputed Himalayan border, where military standoffs have strained ties. The Galwan clash of 2020 was a turning point, pushing India to take a more vocal stance on regional issues, including the South China Sea. Where New Delhi once maintained a neutral position, it now explicitly supports the 2016 arbitral ruling and emphasizes freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with UNCLOS. This shift was evident in a joint statement with the Philippines in June 2023 and has been reiterated in subsequent communiques.
For both nations, China’s actions are a shared concern that transcends geography. As maritime democracies, India and the Philippines see themselves as guardians of a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Their strategic partnership is a response to this common challenge, positioning them as key players in a broader coalition of like-minded nations. Marcos himself underscored this during the visit, noting that India is now the Philippines’ fifth strategic partner, joining the ranks of the United States, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
Defense: The Heart of the Partnership
Defense cooperation is the cornerstone of this elevated relationship. The Philippines’ purchase of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system in January 2022 for $374.9 million marked a significant milestone, making Manila the first international buyer of India’s flagship missile platform. This deal not only bolstered the Philippines’ defense capabilities but also tied the two nations into a pivotal strategic relationship.
Ahead of Marcos’s visit, Indian naval ships—INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan—conducted a joint patrol with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea, a move that raised eyebrows in Beijing. This was the first such joint exercise in the disputed waters, signaling a new level of interoperability between the two navies. Marcos emphasized this during his visit, stating, “We will foster naval and coast guard interoperability via port calls, cooperative activities, and capacity building in the maritime domain.”
The agreements signed during the visit further deepened this collaboration. Three defense-related pacts focused on enhancing interoperability, capacity building, and information sharing. The Philippines is also eyeing additional Indian defense equipment, with Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner praising the quality and affordability of India’s offerings. Meanwhile, an agreement between the Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard has laid the groundwork for closer maritime coordination.
This defense alignment isn’t just about hardware. It’s about building a framework for long-term cooperation. The fifth meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee in September 2024, co-chaired by defense secretaries for the first time, underscored the growing sophistication of this partnership. Both nations are also exploring co-production of defense equipment, leveraging India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative and the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defence Posture Law.
Beyond Defense: A Multifaceted Partnership
While defense is the headline, the strategic partnership spans a wide range of sectors. Trade, which has already crossed $3 billion, is a key focus. Modi emphasized the need to finalize the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement review to further boost commerce. The Philippines, frustrated by China’s unfulfilled promises of $30.5 billion in development assistance (of which only $700 million was disbursed), is looking to India as a reliable partner for infrastructure projects. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is eyeing a port development project in Bataan, facing the West Philippine Sea, which could enhance maritime connectivity.
Digital and financial technology is another area of collaboration. India is supporting a pilot project for the Philippines’ sovereign data cloud infrastructure and exploring linkages between payment systems. These initiatives align with both nations’ ambitions to modernize and secure their digital economies.
Tourism and people-to-people ties are also getting a boost. Direct flights between Manila and Delhi are set to begin in October 2025, and a visa-free policy for Indian nationals (up to 14 days) was announced in June 2025. In return, India is offering gratis e-tourist visas to Filipinos for a year. These measures aim to tap into the potential of India’s vast tourism market and strengthen cultural connections, symbolized by the joint unveiling of commemorative postal stamps featuring the lotus (India’s national flower) and sampaguita (the Philippines’).
Other agreements cover agriculture, space cooperation, mutual legal assistance, scientific research, and cybersecurity. An agreement on agricultural cooperation, building on a 2017 agreement, aims to enhance food security, while discussions on renewable energy and environmental preservation reflect shared priorities in sustainability.
A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific
The strategic partnership is as much about regional stability as it is about bilateral gains. Both nations are committed to ASEAN centrality, with the Philippines serving as the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations Coordinator from 2024 to 2027. Marcos, as ASEAN Chair in 2026, will host Modi, further strengthening India-ASEAN ties.
Their joint statement reaffirmed “full respect and adherence to international law,” particularly UNCLOS, and highlighted the 2016 Arbitral Award as a basis for resolving disputes peacefully. This stance is a direct counter to China’s rejection of the ruling and its coercive tactics in the South China Sea. Modi’s “MAHASAGAR” vision (Maritime and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth in the Region) aligns with the Philippines’ push for a rules-based maritime order, making their partnership a critical pillar in the Indo-Pacific architecture.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. The Philippines’ historical reliance on the United States as its primary security partner has slowed its engagement with India in the past. Domestic political shifts, such as the potential rise of Vice President Sara Duterte, who may adopt a softer stance toward China, could complicate the trajectory of this partnership. Meanwhile, India’s focus on the Indian Ocean Region sometimes limits its bandwidth for Southeast Asia, though its Act East Policy has increasingly bridged this gap.
Yet the momentum is undeniable. The strategic partnership, backed by a comprehensive Plan of Action for 2025-2029, provides a roadmap for sustained collaboration. As Amit Dasgupta, former Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, noted, this partnership is “multi-dimensional,” encompassing not just defense and trade but shared aspirations for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
A Partnership of Destiny
As Marcos and Modi stood together in New Delhi, their words echoed a shared resolve. “We are friends by choice and partners by destiny,” Modi said, capturing the spirit of a relationship that has matured over seven decades. For the Philippines, India is a rising power that offers a counterbalance to China without the baggage of over-dependence. For India, the Philippines is a vital ally in its Act East Policy, amplifying its influence in Southeast Asia.
The deals signed during Marcos’s visit—spanning defense, trade, technology, and tourism—are more than just agreements on paper. They are a testament to two nations coming together, not just to counter a common aggressor but to build a future rooted in mutual trust and shared goals. As the Indo-Pacific faces an era of uncertainty, India and the Philippines are charting a course toward resilience, cooperation, and a rules-based order that benefits not just them but the entire region.
Indiand the Philippines have shared a bond since November 26, 1949, when formal diplomatic relations were established, just years after both nations gained independence. Rooted in shared democratic values, cultural ties, and a commitment to a rules-based international order, their relationship has evolved steadily. Over the decades, high-level exchanges have kept the momentum alive. From Modi’s meeting with then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2014 to Marcos Jr.’s brief encounter with Modi at the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos in October 2024, these interactions have built a foundation of trust. But it’s the recent visit of Marcos to India that has truly elevated this partnership to new heights.
The announcement of a strategic partnership during Marcos’s visit on August 5, 2025, was a landmark moment. Modi, standing alongside Marcos, declared, “We have decided to take our relations to the level of strategic partnership. A comprehensive action plan is also being made to transform this partnership into results.” This wasn’t just rhetoric. The two nations signed 13 agreements, including three in the defense sector, signaling a commitment to deepen cooperation in areas critical to both countries’ security and prosperity.
Why Now? The China Factor
The timing of this strategic partnership is no coincidence. Both India and the Philippines face mounting pressures from China’s growing assertiveness. For the Philippines, the South China Sea is a flashpoint. China’s expansive claims, militarization of artificial islands, and harassment of Filipino fishermen and coast guard vessels have escalated tensions, particularly near the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a military outpost. The 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which invalidated China’s claims, remains a cornerstone of Manila’s stance, yet Beijing continues to ignore it.
India, too, has its own challenges with China, particularly along the disputed Himalayan border, where military standoffs have strained ties. The Galwan clash of 2020 was a turning point, pushing India to take a more vocal stance on regional issues, including the South China Sea. Where New Delhi once maintained a neutral position, it now explicitly supports the 2016 arbitral ruling and emphasizes freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with UNCLOS. This shift was evident in a joint statement with the Philippines in June 2023 and has been reiterated in subsequent communiques.
For both nations, China’s actions are a shared concern that transcends geography. As maritime democracies, India and the Philippines see themselves as guardians of a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Their strategic partnership is a response to this common challenge, positioning them as key players in a broader coalition of like-minded nations. Marcos himself underscored this during the visit, noting that India is now the Philippines’ fifth strategic partner, joining the ranks of the United States, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
Defense: The Heart of the Partnership
Defense cooperation is the cornerstone of this elevated relationship. The Philippines’ purchase of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system in January 2022 for $374.9 million marked a significant milestone, making Manila the first international buyer of India’s flagship missile platform. This deal not only bolstered the Philippines’ defense capabilities but also tied the two nations into a pivotal strategic relationship.
Ahead of Marcos’s visit, Indian naval ships—INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan—conducted a joint patrol with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea, a move that raised eyebrows in Beijing. This was the first such joint exercise in the disputed waters, signaling a new level of interoperability between the two navies. Marcos emphasized this during his visit, stating, “We will foster naval and coast guard interoperability via port calls, cooperative activities, and capacity building in the maritime domain.”
The agreements signed during the visit further deepened this collaboration. Three defense-related pacts focused on enhancing interoperability, capacity building, and information sharing. The Philippines is also eyeing additional Indian defense equipment, with Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner praising the quality and affordability of India’s offerings. Meanwhile, an agreement between the Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard has laid the groundwork for closer maritime coordination.
This defense alignment isn’t just about hardware. It’s about building a framework for long-term cooperation. The fifth meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee in September 2024, co-chaired by defense secretaries for the first time, underscored the growing sophistication of this partnership. Both nations are also exploring co-production of defense equipment, leveraging India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative and the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defence Posture Law.
Beyond Defense: A Multifaceted Partnership
While defense is the headline, the strategic partnership spans a wide range of sectors. Trade, which has already crossed $3 billion, is a key focus. Modi emphasized the need to finalize the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement review to further boost commerce. The Philippines, frustrated by China’s unfulfilled promises of $30.5 billion in development assistance (of which only $700 million was disbursed), is looking to India as a reliable partner for infrastructure projects. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is eyeing a port development project in Bataan, facing the West Philippine Sea, which could enhance maritime connectivity.
Digital and financial technology is another area of collaboration. India is supporting a pilot project for the Philippines’ sovereign data cloud infrastructure and exploring linkages between payment systems. These initiatives align with both nations’ ambitions to modernize and secure their digital economies.
Tourism and people-to-people ties are also getting a boost. Direct flights between Manila and Delhi are set to begin in October 2025, and a visa-free policy for Indian nationals (up to 14 days) was announced in June 2025. In return, India is offering gratis e-tourist visas to Filipinos for a year. These measures aim to tap into the potential of India’s vast tourism market and strengthen cultural connections, symbolized by the joint unveiling of commemorative postal stamps featuring the lotus (India’s national flower) and sampaguita (the Philippines’).
Other agreements cover agriculture, space cooperation, mutual legal assistance, scientific research, and cybersecurity. An agreement on agricultural cooperation, building on a 2017 agreement, aims to enhance food security, while discussions on renewable energy and environmental preservation reflect shared priorities in sustainability.
A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific
The strategic partnership is as much about regional stability as it is about bilateral gains. Both nations are committed to ASEAN centrality, with the Philippines serving as the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations Coordinator from 2024 to 2027. Marcos, as ASEAN Chair in 2026, will host Modi, further strengthening India-ASEAN ties.
Their joint statement reaffirmed “full respect and adherence to international law,” particularly UNCLOS, and highlighted the 2016 Arbitral Award as a basis for resolving disputes peacefully. This stance is a direct counter to China’s rejection of the ruling and its coercive tactics in the South China Sea. Modi’s “MAHASAGAR” vision (Maritime and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth in the Region) aligns with the Philippines’ push for a rules-based maritime order, making their partnership a critical pillar in the Indo-Pacific architecture.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. The Philippines’ historical reliance on the United States as its primary security partner has slowed its engagement with India in the past. Domestic political shifts, such as the potential rise of Vice President Sara Duterte, who may adopt a softer stance toward China, could complicate the trajectory of this partnership. Meanwhile, India’s focus on the Indian Ocean Region sometimes limits its bandwidth for Southeast Asia, though its Act East Policy has increasingly bridged this gap.
Yet the momentum is undeniable. The strategic partnership, backed by a comprehensive Plan of Action for 2025-2029, provides a roadmap for sustained collaboration. As Amit Dasgupta, former Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, noted, this partnership is “multi-dimensional,” encompassing not just defense and trade but shared aspirations for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
A Partnership of Destiny
As Marcos and Modi stood together in New Delhi, their words echoed a shared resolve. “We are friends by choice and partners by destiny,” Modi said, capturing the spirit of a relationship that has matured over seven decades. For the Philippines, India is a rising power that offers a counterbalance to China without the baggage of over-dependence. For India, the Philippines is a vital ally in its Act East Policy, amplifying its influence in Southeast Asia.
The deals signed during Marcos’s visit—spanning defense, trade, technology, and tourism—are more than just agreements on paper. They are a testament to two nations coming together, not just to counter a common aggressor but to build a future rooted in mutual trust and shared goals. As the Indo-Pacific faces an era of uncertainty, India and the Philippines are charting a course toward resilience, cooperation, and a rules-based order that benefits not just them but the entire region.
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