Countries India and Philippines forge agreements to bolster strategic alliance
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines embarked on a five-day official visit to India, starting on August 5, 2025. The visit, aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, resulted in a series of significant developments across various sectors.
Defense Modernization and Cooperation
The visit of President Marcos to India is of particular importance in the context of the Philippines' defense modernization and its relationship with India. During the trip, the Philippines purchased the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system from India, marking the first such export by New Delhi. Delivery of the system began in April 2025.
The BrahMos missile system purchase is a significant development in the defense partnership between India and the Philippines. President Marcos expressed satisfaction with the Philippines' rapid defense modernization efforts, and the leaders discussed setting the terms of reference for negotiations on a possible Preferential Trade Agreement between Manila and New Delhi.
The agreements cover cooperation between the armed forces of both countries, including army, air force, and navy. India has invited the Philippines to join the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a key platform for maritime domain awareness, which underscores enhanced defense intelligence sharing and coordination.
The partnership encompasses agreements enhancing maritime security and defense collaboration between the two countries, reflecting their shared interests in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The partnership expresses commitment to a free, open, rules-based, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, which aligns defense cooperation with broader regional security goals.
Trade Agreements and Economic Cooperation
Both countries have agreed to initiate negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. Enhanced customs cooperation has been agreed upon to simplify procedures facilitating smoother trade flows. The partnership encourages business exchanges, trade fairs, and B2B contacts to explore commercial opportunities further.
To further boost people-to-people contact and economic ties, India has been granted visa-free entry for Philippine tourists for one year. Additionally, India is supporting a pilot project to establish the Philippines’ Sovereign Data Cloud Infrastructure, enhancing digital and technological cooperation.
A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific Region
The strategic partnership between India and the Philippines, formally established on August 5, 2025, is guided by a detailed Plan of Action for 2025-2029 aiming to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple domains, including defense and trade. Both sides reaffirm support for ASEAN Centrality and a rules-based regional order, emphasizing the strategic nature of their cooperation.
In summary, the India-Philippines strategic partnership forms a comprehensive framework enhancing defense cooperation notably through maritime security collaboration and intelligence sharing, and initiates efforts toward a trade agreement to diversify and deepen economic ties. This partnership reflects a shared strategic vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The value of the contract for the BrahMos missile system is US$375 million. During the visit, India and the Philippines signed a series of agreements to bolster their partnership, signifying a significant step forward in the bilateral relationship. President Marcos described the talks with Indian leaders as comprehensive, productive, and forward-looking.
- The BrahMos missile system purchase by the Philippines from India, worth US$375 million, marks a significant development in the bilateral defense partnership between the two nations.
- The strategic partnership between India and the Philippines includes discussions on setting the terms of reference for negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
- India has invited the Philippines to join the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a key platform for maritime domain awareness, to enhance defense intelligence sharing and coordination.
- India and the Philippines signed a series of agreements to bolster their partnership, notably in defense cooperation and the establishment of the Philippines’ Sovereign Data Cloud Infrastructure, during the visits in August 2025.
