State visit reaffirms growing ties between PH, India—Marcos
President Marcos said that his State Visit to India is a reaffirmation of the growing alliance between the Philippines and India.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are formally welcomed by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PPA)
“It is a reaffirmation of the partnership that we continue to strengthen. What we once called the Asia-Pacific, we now rightly refer to as the Indo-Pacific,” Marcos said, acknowledging it as a “reflection of the evolving global landscape where politics, trade, and economic growth are increasingly interconnected.”
He made the remark before members of the Indian and Philippine media on Tuesday, Aug. 5, after he was accorded full ceremonial honors at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was received by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The traditional state welcome included an inspection of the Guard of Honor and a 21-gun salute—symbols of the high esteem India extends to visiting heads of state.
Marcos highlighted the Philippines’ deepening commitment to a stronger and forward-looking strategic partnership with one of Asia’s key democratic allies.
He recognized that India is widely recognized as the world's largest democracy, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion.
The President also expressed optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead in light of recent technological and geopolitical shifts.
“I want to build upon what we already have now, but certainly to explore the many opportunities that have arisen in the past two years because of the new technologies and the changing state of the global economy and the geopolitics,” he said.
After the arrival honors, Marcos visited the Raj Ghat to lay a wreath at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, paying tribute to the Indian leader’s enduring legacy of peace, non-violence, and moral leadership.
The Chief Executive's engagements in New Delhi include high-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and the signing of key agreements in trade, technology, defense, and education.
The Philippines and India are also poised to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership.