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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH, India agree to boost security talks for free, open Indo-Pacific

PH, India agree to boost security talks for free, open Indo-Pacific

Published Aug 5, 2025 05:01 pm
President Marcos announced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, that the Philippines and India have agreed to “level up” their defense and security ties to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region critical to both countries.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
“We agreed to continue leveling up our collaboration in defense and security,” Marcos said in a joint statement after his bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We recognize India's influence as first-responder role in this critical area and we want to work with you for a free and open Indo-Pacific. We both have high stakes in the future of our Indo-Pacific region and in the world,” he added.

Expressing their “shared concerns” in the region, the President said the two countries will collaborate for “security and rule of law in the maritime commons, supply chain resilience food security, countering terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats.”

Marcos said he and Modi are satisfied with the “rapid pace” of the Philippines ongoing defense modernization, as well as the expansion of India’s role in the modernization program through the BrahMos project.

The project, which has so far delivered two of the three batches of India-made BrahMos cruise missiles, aims to provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

“We concurred that we should be accompanied with intensified dialogue and exchanges between our defense establishments,” Marcos said, adding that both countries also agreed to establish mechanisms for service-to-service talks, information sharing, and training exchanges amongst our militaries.

The President also shared plans to foster naval and Coast Guard interoperability via port calls.

In the joint statement, Marcos expressed gratitude to Modi for India’s support of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award in the South China Sea, and its adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both leaders were present to witness the presentation and exchange of bilateral agreements between their respective Cabinet secretaries and ministers at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India.

This was after a bilateral meeting, where Marcos and Modi discussed the Philippines-India Strategic Partnership and other areas of cooperation, such as trade, law enforcement, security and defense, digital technologies, maritime cooperation, science and technology, tourism, culture and arts, and space cooperation.

Marcos is currently on a five-day State visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8.

Related Tags

President Marcos India Indo-Pacific defense ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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