In a world where diplomacy is fast giving way to distrust, and where global leadership is increasingly driven by power plays rather than partnerships, India and the Philippines have chosen a different path — one of strategic trust, cooperation, and a deepening maritime bond.
Their growing closeness, rooted in a seven-decade-old friendship, has now evolved into a formal Strategic Partnership, sending ripples through the region, especially to an increasingly assertive China.
A Friendship Forged in Trust, Not Tension
This week marked a significant milestone in India-Philippines bilateral relations as both nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic engagement, not merely through ceremonial handshakes or symbolic meetings, but with a bold joint naval passage in the South China Sea, a region fraught with tensions and geopolitical contestation.
As Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in India on a five-day state visit, Indian warships INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan were already patrolling the waters alongside Philippine Navy frigates BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Miguel Malvar — within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The symbolic timing of this two-day joint naval exercise was no accident. It was carefully planned to align with President Marcos’s India visit — a powerful gesture of solidarity and shared strategic vision.
The operation was conducted calmly and professionally was closely watched by Beijing, whose increasingly aggressive maritime claims have put the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations on edge.
With Indian naval assets navigating through contested waters beside a key regional ally, a clear message was sent — India supports a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
From Longstanding Diplomacy to Strategic Alignment
India and the Philippines have historically enjoyed warm diplomatic ties, underpinned by shared democratic values, economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
But over the past decade, as the Indo-Pacific region transformed into a hotbed of strategic rivalry, their relationship has steadily evolved from goodwill to defence collaboration and maritime coordination.
The joint naval passage, agreed upon earlier this year during Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner’s meeting with his Indian counterpart, is a reflection of this changing dynamic.
It signals that India is willing to play a more active security role in Southeast Asia, especially when it comes to upholding freedom of navigation and international maritime law in the South China Sea.
Speaking to the press, Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, reiterated New Delhi’s clear and consistent stance: We consider the South China Sea part of the global commons.
We support freedom of navigation, overflight, and legitimate commerce through the waters of the South China Sea… Our position is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Peace and stability in the region are in India’s abiding interest.”
Kumaran further stressed that ongoing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea must be inclusive, ensuring that all affected parties — even those not directly involved in the negotiations — have a voice. This remark was widely interpreted as a subtle pushback against China’s attempts to dominate the process.
Strategic Partnership Signed, Action Plan Drawn
The diplomatic engagements in New Delhi culminated in the signing of a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between India and the Philippines.
The declaration commits both nations to expanded cooperation across multiple fronts — from defence and maritime security to shipbuilding, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, pollution control, and coastal surveillance.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Marcos issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
They jointly reaffirmed their commitment to international law, especially UNCLOS, and emphasized the need for restraint, dialogue, and respect for sovereign rights in maritime disputes.
The agreement also paves the way for greater military coordination, including joint participation in ASEAN-India Maritime Exercises, Exercise MILAN, and the Philippines’ Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA).
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi welcomed President Marcos with a message that underlined both celebration and strategic resolve:
India is delighted to welcome the Philippines President Mr. Bongbong MMarcoss, at a time when we mark 75 years of bilateral relations between our nations.
It is equally gladdening that we have decided to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, which ensures our cooperation becomes more robust and diverse. An Action Plan has also been drawn up in this regard.”
Sending a Firm Message to Beijing
While India and the Philippines describe their naval cooperation as part of their longstanding and evolving friendship, the geopolitical implications are unmistakable.
The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint, with China laying sweeping claims over vast stretches of the waters, much to the alarm of regional countries and global observers.
The sight of Indian and Philippine warships conducting joint manoeuvres inside Manila’s EEZ has not gone unnoticed in Beijing.
For China, which is already engaged in multiple territorial and diplomatic tensions, the increasing alignment between New Delhi and Manila sounds a clear alarm bell. India is no longer a distant player in Southeast Asian waters — it is now actively involved.
A New Axis of Maritime Cooperation in an Uncertain World
In a time when global trust is eroding and mutual understanding has taken a backseat to confrontation, India and the Philippines have charted a different course — one based on shared values, mutual respect, and common strategic interests.
This 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries marks not only a celebration of history but a new chapter of assertive collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. It demonstrates that when nations come together in trust, they can shape the narrative, even in the most contested waters of the world.
#IndiaPhilippinesStrategicPartnership #SouthChinaSeaDrill #MaritimeFreedom #IndoPacificStrategy #NavalCooperation #UNCLOS #ModiMarcosMeet #INSDelhi #IndiaInSoutheastAsia #DefenceDiplomacy #JointNavalExercise #ChinaAlert #GeopoliticalShifts #75YearsOfFriendship #IndiaPhilippinesTies #ASEANIndia #IndiaActEast #GlobalCommons #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific #IndiaPhilippinesUnity