An international think tank believes that the Philippines' cooperation with its partners, including Australia, is crucial to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Stratbase Institute President Professor Dindo Manhit noted this as they  lauded President Marcos' recent state visit to Canberra and the signing of three agreements between the Philippines and Australia.

“Our Institute strongly believes that the rules-based international order for security and economic prosperity should flourish across the region. Just as how cooperation across sectors through a whole-of-Philippine-society is necessary for domestic societal development, cooperation amongst partners is also necessary to counter geostrategic competition and ensure regional peace and stability,” Manhit said.

During Marcos' visit in Canberra, where he delivered a rare address to Australia’s Parliament, he emphasized that the strategic partnership between the two countries is more important than ever amid growing security threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also signed three agreements that will enhance interoperability in maritime domain and maritime environment, cyber and critical technology, and investigative techniques for the implementation of competition laws.

Manhit noted that from the visit of Prime Minister Albanese in September last year to the most recent visit of the President, bilateral agreements between the two countries have increased immensely, with the Strategic Partnership inked last September.

“At the core of this strengthened relationship between the two countries is a shared belief in the rules-based international order, one that is furthered by multilateralism intended to sustain peace and stability in the region. The agreements signed during this two-day visit demonstrates those shared values,” Manhit said.

“Indeed, this longstanding partnership between the Philippines and Australia signals a significant step forward in bilateral relations towards forging a stronger, more prosperous, and peaceful Indo-Pacific,” he added.

Aside from Australia, two other Indo-Pacific countries, Japan and India, expressed stronger support to the Philippines’ bid for a safe and stable maritime region.

In a maritime security conference on Friday, organized by the Stratbase Institute, in partnership with the Japan Foundation Manila, government officials and experts from the Philippines, India, and Japan pushed for triangular cooperation in the security and economic sectors to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.