India and the Philippines have announced an upgraded strategic partnership aimed at strengthening trade, defense, and maritime ties between the two nations. The agreement was reached after bilateral talks in New Delhi, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
The partnership will focus on cooperation in key areas such as trade, space, tourism, culture, and digital technologies. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal stated that the sides have agreed to expand partnerships in these sectors.
Both countries emphasized the importance of peace, security, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi said India is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, while Marcos expressed his desire to work with India for a similar goal.
The partnership comes as both nations deepen their defense ties, including joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea. The recent joint exercises have drawn attention from China. India has also supplied BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems to the Philippines, further strengthening their military cooperation.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-philippines-modi-marcos-strategic-partnership-86d1fa90b370f32d26cef98602997af6