Mending ties, pg 8.

Key Highlights:

• India and the Philippines signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, reinforcing historical and security ties.
• First-ever joint naval exercises between Indian and Philippine Navies were conducted in the South China Sea, drawing criticism from China.
• India reiterated support for the 2016 UNCLOS arbitration ruling, which upheld the Philippines' maritime claims.
• The Philippines became India's fifth strategic partner in East Asia, after Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and South Korea.
• Discussions included defence hardware acquisition, notably expanding on the BrahMos missile export.
• Bilateral agreements covered military coordination (across all services), visa liberalisation, and direct flight connectivity.
• Talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and revision of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) are underway.

Detailed Insights:

• The agreement reflects growing strategic convergence between India and the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific, especially in maritime security and defence cooperation.
• Joint naval drills signal India’s assertive presence in the South China Sea, aligning with regional powers resisting China’s unilateral claims.
• India's endorsement of the UNCLOS-based rules-based maritime order complements its diplomatic balancing in East and Southeast Asia.
• Defence cooperation gains depth with the Philippines showing further interest in Indian weapon systems, including BrahMos, marking India’s emergence as a defence exporter.
• The Philippines’ role as ASEAN coordinator for India and future ASEAN chair (2026) enhances the strategic value of this partnership for India's Act East Policy.
• The visit also aimed to repair diplomatic strains caused by prior Indian remarks on ASEAN trade practices and signals a reset in India–ASEAN economic diplomacy.
• The PTA and AITIGA reforms indicate India’s renewed commitment to liberalised trade with ASEAN, addressing both market access and geopolitical priorities.

Concepts Involved:

• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea): An international treaty defining maritime zones and legal rights of nations at sea.
• Arbitration Award (2016): A ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favour of the Philippines, invalidating China’s expansive maritime claims.
• BrahMos Missile: A supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, capable of being launched from land, sea, or air platforms.
• Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA): A pact that gives certain products from participating countries preferential access through reduced tariffs.