Defence to space, trade to tech: India, Philippines to deepen ties, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. held wide-ranging discussions on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit to further advance bilateral ties.
• The Philippines officially joined the India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• India and the Philippines elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in August 2025.
• The 2022 deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippine Navy marked a significant defence milestone, with initial deliveries commencing in April 2024.
• Bilateral trade between the two nations has surpassed $3 billion, with cooperation expanding across defence, space, technology, and infrastructure sectors.

Detailed Insights:

• The bilateral meeting underscored the growing momentum in the India-Philippines strategic partnership, which was formalized during President Marcos Jr.'s state visit to India in August 2025.
• President Marcos Jr.'s attendance at the BRICS Summit as the current ASEAN chair highlights the Philippines' regional significance and aligns with India's Act East Policy.
• India's Act East Policy, launched in 2014, aims to enhance economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the broader Asia-Pacific region, with ASEAN serving as its central pillar.
• The BrahMos missile deal, valued at $375 million, established the Philippines as the first international customer for the advanced India-Russia joint venture missile system.
• Both nations share concerns regarding China's assertive territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea, which is a key driver for their deepening security cooperation.
• India consistently advocates for a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea, adhering to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• A 2025-29 roadmap was adopted to further enhance military training, staff talks, and maritime security cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Act East Policy: India's foreign policy initiative launched in 2014 to strengthen economic, strategic, and cultural ties with the Asia-Pacific region, with ASEAN at its core.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): An India-led global partnership launched in 2019 to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems against disaster and climate risks.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty adopted in 1982 that establishes a comprehensive legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
• BrahMos: A supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia, capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms.