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Signalling a new phase in India-Philippines relations, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will undertake a state visit to India from August 5 to 7, ahead of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. The visit underscores the growing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Manila, particularly on defence, naval, and maritime security cooperation.
The high-profile trip comes at a time of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, with both nations seeking to expand military collaboration and strengthen regional security frameworks. President Marcos will be accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, including senior officials from the defence, finance, law, justice, and trade ministries, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the bilateral agenda.
First Bilateral Naval Drills in Strategic Waters
Ahead of the official engagements, India and the Philippines will conduct their first-ever bilateral naval exercise, known as the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), on August 3-4. The joint drills will take place in waters off the West Philippine Sea, near the Scarborough Shoal, a maritime flashpoint that has been contested between Manila and Beijing.
The location is symbolic. Although the 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidated ChinaтАЩs sweeping maritime claims in the region under UNCLOS, Beijing continues to assert control, leading to frequent standoffs with the Philippines. The exercise is seen as a signal of IndiaтАЩs support for freedom of navigation and its commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific.
Indian naval assets, including reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters, and drones, will join their Philippine counterparts in practising key wartime and surveillance drills. These may include Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (DEAD) manoeuvres, though official details remain classified.
Four Indian Warships to Make Port Call in Philippines
Four Indian Navy ships are expected to dock in the Philippines from later this month, with the first scheduled for around July 30, including the state-of-the-art hydrographic survey vessel INS Sandhayak. The deployment will support ongoing collaboration in maritime domain awareness and hydrographic mapping.
This visit marks the largest-ever contingent of Indian naval ships to the Philippines. Previous interactions were limited to PASSEX (Passing Exercises), but officials have signalled a transition toward joint operational readiness and disaster response cooperation.
BrahMos, Akash, and Expanding Defence Trade
India and the Philippines are also charting new territory in defence trade. The Philippines made headlines in early 2022 by becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to procure the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system from India, a landmark $375 million deal now in the implementation phase. The system will be deployed along the PhilippinesтАЩ western coastline, enhancing deterrence against foreign incursions in disputed waters.
Talks are underway for a second major acquisition – IndiaтАЩs Akash short-range surface-to-air missile system, reportedly valued at over $200 million, according to defence sources. The two sides are also in discussions about ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Maritime Reconnaissance variants for the Philippine Coast Guard, a potential deal that has been pending since 2021.
Strategic Partnership on the Horizon
President Marcos is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, with discussions likely to cover maritime security, defence procurement, economic engagement, and regional cooperation. According to diplomatic sources, the visit may culminate in the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
The latter half of the visit will see President Marcos travelling to Bangalore on August 7 and 8 for a series of engagements with Indian business leaders and technology firms, furthering ties in startups, clean energy, fintech, and digital innovation.
Shared Concerns Over Regional Stability
India and the Philippines are increasingly aligned in their strategic outlook, particularly as ChinaтАЩs assertive posture continues to destabilise the Indo-Pacific. Both nations face border and maritime challenges with Beijing,┬аIndia along the Ladakh frontier and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, particularly around the Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals.
India, while seeking d├йtente with China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, remains wary. During External Affairs Minister S. JaishankarтАЩs recent visit to Beijing, India reiterated that peace along the border is essential for rebuilding trust.
Looking Ahead
With the Indo-Pacific emerging as the defining geopolitical theatre of the 21st century, the India-Philippines relationship is undergoing a profound transformation, from limited defence engagement to comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Huma Siddiqui
