India–Philippines Strategic Partnership

Syllabus: Bilateral Relations

Source:  HT

Context: During the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India in August 2025, both nations signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, expanding cooperation in defence, maritime security, and space technology.

About India–Philippines Strategic Partnership:

1. Strategic Partnership Upgrade:

• India and the Philippines officially upgraded their bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership.

2. Defence and Maritime Cooperation:

• Finalisation of Terms of Reference (ToR) between the two countries’ Armies, Navies, and Air Forces for structured defence engagement.
• ToR also signed for India–Philippines Coast Guard cooperation, covering joint maritime activities and information exchange.
• Indian naval ships participated for the first time in a naval exercise in the Philippines during the visit.
• India’s hydrography ship took part in joint engagements, indicating deeper naval mapping and domain awareness cooperation.

3. Trade and Economic Engagement:

• India and the Philippines commenced formal negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to boost bilateral trade.

4. Connectivity and Tourism:

• Direct flights between India and the Philippines to begin by end of 2025.
• India announced a free e-tourist visa facility for Filipino nationals for one year starting August 2025.

5. Legal and Institutional Agreements:

• Signed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters.
• Signed Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons for consular cooperation and legal integration.

6. Digital Infrastructure Cooperation:

• India to support a pilot project for the Philippines Sovereign Data Cloud, expanding cooperation in data governance and digital public infrastructure.
• Philippines invited to join India’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC–IOR) to enhance maritime security intelligence.

7. Regional and Global Outlook:

• Both countries reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, consistent with UNCLOS 1982.
• India highlighted the South China Sea as global commons, advocating a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

Historical Evolution of Bilateral Ties:

• Diplomatic ties established in 1949, among the earliest in India’s post-Independence foreign policy.
• The year 2024 marked 75 years of diplomatic relations, with a renewed focus on high-level exchanges, institutional dialogues, and capacity-building projects.

Areas of Bilateral Cooperation:

1. Defence and Security:

• BrahMos missile system delivered in 2024, making Philippines the first foreign recipient.
• Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Service-to-Service (STS) dialogues institutionalised.

2. Maritime Cooperation:

• Track-1 Maritime Dialogue and agreements on hydrographic data sharing and coastal surveillance.
• Cooperation in multilateral exercises like ADMM-Plus, MILAN, and ASEAN–India Maritime drills.

3. Space Technology:

• ISRO to assist Philippines in satellite launches, capacity building, and weather/agriculture monitoring.
• Collaboration with PhilSA reflects India’s rising soft power in the global space sector.

4. Trade and Economic Engagement:

• Bilateral trade reached USD 3.5 billion in 2023–24.
• India exports pharma, electronics, rice, engineering goods and imports semiconductors, ores, machinery.
• Indian FDI stands at USD 5 billion, while PTA negotiations are ongoing.

5. Health and Education:

• Philippines was the first ASEAN country to approve Covaxin.
• ~9,800 Indian students’ study in the Philippines, mainly in medicine.

6. Development and Fintech:

• India funded Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in disaster management and agriculture.
• MoU on fintech cooperation to expand digital payments and inclusion.

Key Challenges

• FDI Asymmetry: Philippines’ investment in India remains modest despite trade growth.
• Under-implementation of MoUs: Several agreements (hydrography, space, tourism) pending operationalisation.
• China Factor in Maritime Policy: Philippines’ tightrope walks between Chinese pressure and strategic alignment with India/US/ASEAN.
• Connectivity Lag: Direct air links still pending; tourism and education exchanges remain under-leveraged.

Significance of the Relationship:

• Act East Policy Anchor: Enhances India’s diplomatic footprint in ASEAN and strengthens Indo-Pacific vision.
• Maritime Balancing Role: Strategic convergence in South China Sea ensures regional balance against Chinese aggression.
• Boost to Defence Exports: Opens market for Indian weapons systems, logistics, and naval platforms in Southeast Asia.
• Space & Tech Diplomacy: Positions India as a development partner in space, digital governance, and climate resilience.
• People-to-People Bridge: Large Indian diaspora and student population foster long-term goodwill and grassroots engagement.

Way Forward:

• Finalise Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to diversify trade and reduce tariff barriers.
• Operationalise Defence Co-production under Atmanirbhar Bharat framework in shipbuilding and missile components.
• Launch Joint Satellite Missions focused on weather, disaster relief, and agriculture monitoring.
• Institutionalise Track-1.5 Dialogues involving think tanks, universities, and maritime institutions.
• Promote Academic & Medical Tourism using new air routes and cross-recognition of degrees.

Conclusion:

India–Philippines relations are transitioning from symbolic diplomacy to substantive strategic engagement. As maritime democracies, their synergy in defence, space, and digital cooperation holds long-term regional significance. With greater institutional follow-through, this partnership can emerge as a pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific outreach.