A ranking Indian diplomat is ​returning to the Philippines to boost New Delhi’s defense ties with Manila as both countries seek to  maintain peace and stability in the region.

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will undertake his second visit to Manila from March 25 to 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.

His trip is part of his Southeast Asia tour, which also includes Singapore and Malaysia.

During his visit, Jaishankar will meet with DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, to hold discussions that will focus on defense and maritime cooperation, especially amid increasing aggression in the South China Sea.

They will build on their previous engagements including the 5th Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) held in India and during the Non-Aligned Movement Summit held in Uganda. 

In July 2023, India joined several nations in supporting the Philippines’ fight for sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea that China claims in its entirety.

​Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran in September already indicated New Delhi's interest in expanding naval ties with Manila because both​ maritime nations have "high" and "common" stakes in the region.

"I do see the possibility of greater engagement in the maritime domain. As to what it will take, we have to depend on the evolution of the situation," ​Kumaran said in a meeting with the press.

​During Jaishankar's second visit, he and Manalo will also talk about food security, development, healthcare and financial technology cooperation.

According to DFA, India is the Philippines 15th trading partner and 13th export market, with total bilateral trade surpassing three billion US dollars in 2023.