Philippine President Marcos to Visit India: Strengthening Strategic Ties in the Indo-Pacific

In a significant diplomatic development, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to embark on his maiden state visit to India from August 4 to 8, 2025. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks a pivotal moment in the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two nations. Accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, President Marcos’s visit will encompass two major Indian cities—New Delhi and Bengaluru.

This trip comes at a time when India and the Philippines are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, established in November 1949. As both countries seek to deepen their engagement in areas of mutual interest, the visit signals a new era of cooperation in strategic, economic, and technological domains.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.(REUTERS) | LiveMint

High-Level Engagements and City Visits

President Marcos will begin his visit in New Delhi, where he will engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi on August 5. He is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold consultations with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. These meetings are expected to cover a wide range of topics, from defence and maritime security to trade, digital infrastructure, and health cooperation.

Following his engagements in the capital, the Philippine delegation will travel to Bengaluru, India’s technology and innovation hub. Here, President Marcos will participate in forums with Indian tech entrepreneurs and address a business summit focused on regional economic partnerships. A highlight of his Bengaluru visit will be a keynote address themed around “Philippines and India as partners for a rules-based order,” which is expected to emphasize shared democratic values and strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific.

Strategic and Defence Cooperation: A Cornerstone of the Visit

Defence and security cooperation will take center stage during this visit. India and the Philippines are poised to conduct their first-ever bilateral naval exercise, known as the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), in the South China Sea on August 3–4, just before President Marcos arrives in India. This marks a significant escalation in military collaboration and is aimed at enhancing maritime interoperability and joint domain awareness in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions.

The drills, to be held near Scarborough Shoal—a flashpoint in the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China—will feature four Indian Navy vessels: INS Delhi, INS Shakti, INS Sandhayak, and INS Kiltan. These ships, which will already be docked in Manila as part of a goodwill port call from July 30, will join Philippine naval forces in conducting coordinated maneuvers, showcasing their readiness to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.

This development follows a series of recent defence pacts. In 2024, the Philippines became the first international buyer of India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with a $375 million deal marking a new chapter in India’s defence exports. During the upcoming talks, further discussions are expected on the potential acquisition of Akash surface-to-air missile systems and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) designed for maritime reconnaissance, demonstrating Manila’s growing trust in India’s defence capabilities.

Context of Maritime Tensions and Regional Security

The strategic relevance of this visit is underscored by rising tensions in the South China Sea. Despite the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China's sweeping claims, Beijing continues to assert control over the Scarborough Shoal—located within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The joint naval exercise and India’s increasing involvement in maritime operations in Southeast Asia highlight a broader realignment of regional actors seeking to reinforce a rules-based international order.

India’s active participation also signals its evolving stance on maritime disputes. While New Delhi traditionally remained neutral, it has recently started to endorse the Philippines' legal position, calling for respect for international law and freedom of navigation. This approach aligns with India’s “Act East” policy and the more expansive Vision MAHASAGAR, both of which promote deeper engagement with Southeast Asian countries to ensure regional stability.

Expanding Economic and Technological Partnerships

Beyond defence, the visit aims to open new avenues in trade, investment, and technology. India and the Philippines are expected to sign multiple agreements aimed at boosting economic collaboration, particularly in the fields of fintech, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and digital innovation.

Bengaluru, as India’s Silicon Valley, offers the perfect platform for Filipino delegates to interact with Indian startups, tech firms, and digital infrastructure developers. This leg of the trip is likely to emphasize the complementarity of India’s vast digital economy and the Philippines’ emerging tech talent and business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Multilateral Alignment and the Indo-Pacific Vision

The Marcos visit also places the India–Philippines relationship within the broader context of Indo-Pacific geopolitics. The Philippines, already a key U.S. ally with expanded military cooperation under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), has recently deepened ties with Japan, Australia, and France. The addition of India to this strategic matrix signals Manila’s commitment to diversifying its partnerships and elevating its role in regional security frameworks.

For India, engagement with the Philippines reflects its maturing position as a responsible Indo-Pacific actor, willing to collaborate not only on economic issues but also on shared strategic concerns such as freedom of navigation, respect for sovereignty, and regional deterrence against coercive actions.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in India–Philippines Relations

President Marcos’s upcoming state visit to India is far more than a symbolic gesture. It is a powerful affirmation of the growing strategic and diplomatic trust between two major democracies of Asia. From joint naval drills in contested waters to expanded economic cooperation and technological exchange, the visit is poised to redefine the trajectory of India–Philippines relations.

As the Indo-Pacific emerges as the world’s most dynamic and contested region, this partnership carries immense potential—not only for the two countries involved but for the larger goal of ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.

(Sources: LiveMint, Zee News, ETV Bharat)