NEW DELHI: As India prepares to welcome Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manila has signaled its intent to deepen defence ties by purchasing more military equipment from New Delhi.
Defence, security, and maritime cooperation remain key pillars of the growing India-Philippines relationship, and these topics will top the agenda during Marcos' bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, along with discussions on trade and economic collaboration.
Ahead of the visit, Romeo Brawner, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), emphasized his country’s interest in acquiring additional weapon systems from India, citing both their quality and affordability. He also highlighted the ongoing delivery of BrahMos cruise missiles, jointly developed by India and Russia, noting that two more sets are expected to arrive in the coming years.
Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea—referred to by Manila as the West Philippine Sea—the Philippines has ramped up defence cooperation with regional and global partners, including India and Japan. These efforts aim to counter growing Chinese assertiveness and ensure stability in the contested waters.
In a significant step forward, India is set to conduct a joint naval patrol with the Philippines in the South China Sea this week. Both countries have taken a firm stance on the issue, with India supporting the 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected China’s sweeping maritime claims—an award Beijing has refused to recognize.
The Modi-Marcos talks are expected to include discussions on India’s concessional Line of Credit to support Manila’s defence procurement, acquisition of naval platforms, and increased cooperation in training and maritime security exercises.
According to Philippine officials, the two countries are also expected to sign six agreements spanning areas such as science and technology, law, and culture.
The meeting comes at a time when both India and China are working to stabilize their strained relationship, raising questions about how prominently the South China Sea dispute will feature in the discussions. During Marcos' recent visit to the United States, former President Donald Trump was reported to have told him that he wouldn’t object if the Philippines sought closer ties with China.
Beyond defence, trade will be another key focus area. India and the Philippines are exploring a bilateral trade agreement with the United States to shield their economies from the fallout of Trump’s trade policies. Recently, the US imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports and a 19% duty on goods from the Philippines.
Bilateral trade between India and the Philippines surpassed $3 billion for the first time in 2022–2023. The two sides have agreed to begin negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to build on this momentum.
Development cooperation also plays a vital role in the partnership. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India is implementing six Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in the Philippines under an MoU signed in February 2023. These initiatives span sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, disaster risk reduction, and livelihood support.
