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India and Philippines to upgrade ties to strategic partnership: PM
India and the Philippines have decided to boost their defence and maritime links, begin direct flights and start negotiating a new trade deal as they upgrade their ties to the level of a “strategic partnership”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025).
Welcoming visiting Filipino President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., Mr. Modi said that as both countries support “freedom of navigation”, cooperation in the maritime domain is “natural and essential”. The two sides also announced the commencement of talks for a preferential trade agreement.
Philippines President in India LIVE
“We have been consistently working together in areas such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and search and rescue operations. Today, as the President is visiting India, three Indian naval ships are for the very first time, participating in a naval exercise in the Philippines. India's hydrography ship is also a part of this important engagement,” the Prime Minister said. He also expressed his “sincere gratitude” to the government of the Philippines for condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
The Prime Minister discussed regional and global issues with the Filipino President, and hinted at India's position on the disputes in the South China Sea. “We remain committed to peace, security, prosperity, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. We support freedom of navigation in accordance with international law,” he said.
Mr. Modi described the Philippines as an “important partner” in India's Act East Policy. “I am happy to share that we have decided to upgrade our ties to a strategic partnership. We have also prepared a detailed action plan to turn this partnership's potential into outcomes,” he said. The Prime Minister also announced that direct flights between India and the Philippines will begin this year, while India will extend a free e-tourist visa facility to Filipino nationals for a period of one year, starting August 2025.
The two countries agreed on a number of defence-related mechanisms including the finalisation of the Terms of Reference between their armies, navies and air forces.
These agreements will cover “capacity building, joint maritime activities, exchange of training programmes between our officials, and all standard elements when we talk about defence cooperation”, according to P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs. The two countries also agreed on the Terms of Reference for enhanced maritime cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Mr. Kumaran also reiterated India's position on the South China Sea. “We consider the South China Sea as a part of the global commons. We support freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, and legitimate commerce through the waters of the South China Sea. India has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the region and our position is based on the UN Convention of the Law of the Seas, 1982,” he said.
India and the Philippines sealed a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and another treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons.
India announced that it will extend its support to a pilot project to set up the infrastructure needed for the Philippines Sovereign Data Cloud. India also invited the Philippines to participate in its Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region.
Published - August 05, 2025 02:35 pm IST
India / Philippines / diplomacy
Source: The Hindu
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