"Philippine President Marcos acknowledges India's role as the first responder, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for saving Filipino citizens following a Houthi rebel attack in 2024."
In a significant move, the Philippines and India have officially established a Strategic Partnership, marking a new era of closer engagement between the two nations. The partnership, established in August 2025, is guided by a comprehensive Plan of Action for 2025–2029, outlining cooperation in multiple areas including maritime security, supply chain resilience, food security, counter-terrorism, and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific region.
Maritime Security and Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Both countries have reaffirmed their shared interest in a free, open, transparent, rules-based, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. This cooperation includes efforts towards strengthening maritime security frameworks and dialogues to safeguard peace and security. The partnership emphasizes support for ASEAN centrality and regional stability.
Supply Chain Resilience and Food Security
The Plan of Action encompasses collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, and sectors critical to economic resilience. This addresses supply chain issues and food security to create stronger bilateral and regional linkages.
Counter-terrorism
Ongoing dialogue and cooperation through institutional mechanisms such as Joint Working Groups on counter-terrorism aim to strengthen security and intelligence sharing.
Adherence to International Law
Both countries commit to upholding international law in the Indo-Pacific, reinforcing the rules-based order and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms.
Additional Developments
The partnership has seen additional developments, including pilot support by India for the Philippines’ Sovereign Data Cloud Infrastructure project and an invitation for the Philippines to join India’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region. This enhances information sharing and maritime domain awareness.
India has also granted free e-tourist visa entry to Filipino nationals for one year starting August 2025, facilitating people-to-people contacts and tourism. Plans for Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations are underway to deepen economic ties and supply chain integration.
The Visit
President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr's visit to India from August 4-8, 2025, is a significant step forward in the Philippines-India strategic partnership. During the visit, both leaders agreed to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, promoting peace, stability, and adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The two leaders welcomed the resumption of direct flights between India and the Philippines from October 2025. President Marcos emphasized the importance of safe navigation and security for Filipino seafarers, to which Prime Minister Modi reciprocated with a similar scheme for Filipino tourists.
President Marcos thanked Prime Minister Modi for India's support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality, particularly during the Philippines’ chairmanship in 2026. He also expressed gratitude for India’s support for the peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law, including the UNCLOS and the 2016 award in the South China Sea arbitration.
The agreements and understandings reached during the visit are anticipated to enhance cooperation between the Philippines and India in various areas. The visit signifies a new era of closer, multi-dimensional, and impactful engagement between the Philippines and India.
President Marcos appreciated India’s commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN. The visit is expected to boost bilateral relations and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines-India strategic partnership will continue to collaborate on shared concerns, including a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, security and rule of law in the maritime commons, supply chain resilience, food security, countering terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats relative to the maritime sphere.
- In the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippines and India have pledged to uphold international law, aiming to reinforce the rules-based order and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms, touching upon matters like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- The partnership between the Philippines and India will delve into collaboration on tourism, with India granting free e-tourist visas to Filipino nationals for a year starting August 2025, enhancing people-to-people contacts and cultural exchange.
- Striving for a mutually beneficial relationship, the partnership involves negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement to deepen economic ties and encourage supply chain integration, thus fostering economic resilience and growth in both nations.
