In a monumental move that redefines bilateral diplomacy in Asia, India and the Philippines have officially established a Strategic Partnership. This significant milestone was announced during the State Visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to India, marking a new chapter in the 75-year-old diplomatic relationship between the two nations.

The announcement follows comprehensive bilateral talks between President Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in a robust Plan of Action (2025-2029) that lays out a roadmap for strengthening collaboration across a multitude of sectors.

A Historic Visit: Strengthening Diplomatic Foundations

President Marcos arrived in India on August 4, 2025, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, cabinet ministers, and a business delegation. The visit commenced with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 5, followed by a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

The itinerary also included:

• Bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• A luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

• A formal banquet in honor of President Marcos hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

• A courtesy call from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

• An upcoming visit by President Marcos to Bengaluru, a hub of India's tech and innovation ecosystem.

This visit, occurring during the commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic ties since 1949, underlined the mutual respect and shared values that bind the two democracies.

Establishing the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership

The Strategic Partnership is grounded in the long-standing friendship based on civilizational linkages, democratic values, and mutual trust. It seeks to accelerate cooperation in a range of areas, including:

• Political and diplomatic engagement

• Defence and security

• Maritime and cyber cooperation

• Trade and investment

• Science, technology, and innovation

• Climate action and energy

• Culture, tourism, and education

• Multilateral and regional collaboration

  India is delighted to welcome Philippines President, Mr. Bongbong Marcos at a time when we mark 75 years of bilateral relations between our nations. It is equally gladdening that we have decided to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, which ensures our cooperation becomes… pic.twitter.com/OmzpxziBFp— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2025

Key Guiding Document: Plan of Action (2025–2029)

The India-Philippines Plan of Action (2025-2029) serves as a comprehensive framework to implement the vision of the Strategic Partnership. It includes regular high-level exchanges, institutional dialogues, and sectoral collaborations to build a resilient, mutually beneficial, and future-ready alliance.

Core Areas of Strategic Cooperation

1. Political and Diplomatic Engagement

India and the Philippines have committed to:

• Strengthening high-level exchanges and bilateral dialogues.

• Enhancing coordination in multilateral forums such as the UN, ASEAN, and Voice of the Global South Summit.

• Promoting interaction between legislators, especially youth leaders, to deepen understanding and foster long-term connections.

2. Defence and Security

The two nations reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and security with a focus on:

• Institutionalizing mechanisms like the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC).

• Enhancing tri-service cooperation between the Indian and Philippine armed forces.

• Joint initiatives in maritime security, including coastal surveillance, shipbuilding, hydrography, and search and rescue (SAR).

• Collaborative defence technology development and production to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

• Participation in multilateral exercises such as the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise and the Philippines’ Maritime Cooperative Activities.

3. Maritime Domain and Rule-Based Indo-Pacific

Both leaders expressed strong support for:

• Freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific.

• The importance of ASEAN Centrality.

• Upholding international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

• Recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea as a key framework for peaceful dispute resolution.

Economic and Trade Expansion

Rising Bilateral Trade and Investment

• Bilateral trade reached USD 3.3 billion in 2024–25, showing strong momentum.

• Agreement to expedite negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to enhance market access and diversify the trade basket.

• Focus on critical sectors: renewable energy, digital technologies, infrastructure, agriculture, shipbuilding, and electric vehicles.

Key Initiatives

• Establishment of direct air connectivity between Manila and New Delhi.

• Support for the Philippines' Sovereign Data Cloud Infrastructure pilot project.

• Extension of gratis e-tourist visa to Filipino citizens for one year starting August 2025.

• Increased B2B cooperation through trade fairs, business summits, and delegation exchanges.

Advancing Science, Technology, and Innovation

India and the Philippines have pledged to:

• Launch joint R&D programs under the 2025-2028 Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

• Enhance space cooperation through collaboration between ISRO and the Philippine Space Agency.

• Deepen partnerships in agriculture, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure.

Enhancing Connectivity and Digital Linkages

To bolster physical, digital, and people-centric connectivity, the nations agreed to:

• Improve port-to-port and air connectivity.

• Cooperate on e-governance, fintech, and cybersecurity.

• Collaborate on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and data privacy frameworks.

Strengthening Cultural, Educational, and People-to-People Ties

Cultural and human connections are a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership, with commitments to:

• Expand cultural exchanges through a new Cultural Exchange Programme.

• Launch a joint commemorative stamp for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

• Promote student, academic, and tourism exchanges.

• Enhance training programs under India’s ITEC initiative.

Multilateral Cooperation on Global Challenges

India and the Philippines will collaborate on:

• Climate action via global platforms like the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuels Alliance, and Mission LiFE.

• Participation in the Loss and Damage Fund, headquartered in the Philippines.

• Supporting UN Security Council reform through inclusive and text-based negotiations.

• Advancing causes of the Global South through continued participation in the Voice of the Global South Summit.

13 Key Agreements Signed

Here is a list of the significant Agreements and MoUs signed during the State Visit:

Major Announcements

The State Visit also resulted in several forward-looking announcements:

• Pilot project support for the Philippines' Sovereign Data Cloud.

• Invitation for Philippine participation in the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

• Gratis e-tourist visa for Filipinos for one year from August 2025.

• Commemorative stamp for 75 years of India-Philippines diplomatic ties.

• Commencement of Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations.

A Shared Vision for a Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific

This Strategic Partnership is more than a bilateral achievement—it is a regional signal. It underscores India and the Philippines' commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rule-based Indo-Pacific, in accordance with international law and principles of peaceful coexistence.

As global geopolitics shift, this renewed alliance marks a commitment not only to deepening bilateral ties but also to jointly shaping a resilient and sustainable future for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

A Defining Moment in India-Philippines Relations

With this Strategic Partnership, India and the Philippines have laid down a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and future-forward framework that aligns both countries' national interests, regional aspirations, and global responsibilities.

As the partnership unfolds through 2025 and beyond, this evolving relationship is poised to become one of Asia’s most dynamic diplomatic successes—powered by shared values, strategic trust, and a bold vision for the future.

With inputs from PIB

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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