Philippine India Collaboration: Even though-things are getting better between the Philippines and India, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has made it clear that his country wants to improve ties with India. During his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, President Marcos Jr. said, “We will seek stronger collaboration with friends like India.”
In the last few years, there have been a lot more partnerships. India said it would continue to back Philippine independence, especially since China is becoming more assertive in the South China Sea. EAM (Indian External Affairs Minister) S. Jaishankar told the Philippines again that India stood by them during a trip to Manila earlier this year.
“As we work to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, so shall we build our capabilities to protect our interests in our maritime domain and the global commons,” the president stated, highlighting the rising tension in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific area.
In January 2022, BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), a joint venture of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), inked a contract to provide the Philippines with a Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System.
Indian Navy ships arrives in Manila to ties strengthen with Philippines
In light of China’s assertive actions in the area, observers stated that these agreements, together with many more that are anticipated, place Manila and New Delhi in a burgeoning diplomatic and commercial relationship.
According to The Hindu Business Line, there are multilateral cooperation agreements between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a key member and an Indian naval ship recently made a goodwill visit to the Philippines.
According to the observers, India and ASEAN regularly conduct maritime exercises, and naval ship visits are a part of the overall understanding to learn about each other’s marine capacities.
Speaking at the beginning of the three-day debate centred on defense and security, Marcos emphasized his country’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, stating that it will continue to be a fundamental component of its foreign policy.
“Simultaneously, we shall strengthen our alliance with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei and all the other ASEAN member states. In this spirit, we pursue trilateral collaboration with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Celebes Sea,” he told international diplomats and delegates comprising defence experts at the event
