National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año hailed the strengthening of defense and diplomatic ties between the Philippines and India during a formal reception held aboard the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shakti, currently docked in Manila as part of its goodwill port call.

“This visit is more than ceremonial,” Año said in his keynote address during the reception aboard the Indian Navy’s INS Shakti on Thursday evening.

“It is symbolic of our growing maritime cooperation, mutual trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

The reception, hosted by Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain and Indian Navy Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, marked a key milestone in celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of India.

Año expressed gratitude for the presence of the Indian Navy in Manila and praised the “valiance, dedication, and professionalism” of its sailors and officers.

He emphasized that the growing defense cooperation between the two countries is built on shared democratic values and a commitment to upholding international law, particularly in maintaining peace and order in the Indo-Pacific.

“Our strategic partnership can become a formidable posture in resisting any unilateral attempts to undermine, weaken, or change generally accepted norms and principles of a rules-based international order, endangering regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” he said.

Currently, the Philippines and India are engaged in 13 bilateral mechanisms and 39 agreements covering areas such as trade, investment, health, science and technology, energy, education, and defense.

In 2024, bilateral trade reached $8.5 billion, with India ranking as the Philippines' 14th largest trading partner and 12th biggest source of tourist arrivals.

Defense and security efforts have become key pillars of the partnership, said Año.

He then cited that the Joint Defense Cooperation Committee, established under the 2006 Philippine-India Defense Cooperation Agreement, “continues to facilitate exchanges and assessments of current defense ties and potential areas of collaboration.”

One major highlight of this growing cooperation was the 2022 acquisition of the BrahMos shore-based anti-ship missile system for the Philippine Navy through a government-to-government deal.

This included training and logistics support, signaling a new level of interoperability and trust between the two forces.

Año also highlighted ongoing efforts to deepen naval and coast guard cooperation through joint training, information-sharing, education exchanges, and high-level visits.

As a member of the Quad, India has consistently backed a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, advocating for the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Año commended the Indian Navy’s role in supporting these principles and for being a steadfast partner in promoting maritime security.

“With their presence, strong commitment, and our continued partnerships, we now have another strong and important ally as we advance our collective pursuit of a stable, just, and rule-based maritime order,” he said.

Año further encouraged close collaboration between the Indian and Philippine navies during the port visit, stressing the importance of using such engagements to elevate strategic cooperation.

“As the oldest and largest democracies in Asia, the Philippines and India are like-minded countries with shared values rooted in democratic ideals and respect for basic freedoms,” he said.

“This makes us as innately aligned to uphold and preserve a rule-based international order,” he added.

The visit of INS Shakti along with INS Delhi and INS Kiltan comes ahead of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s planned state visit to India, the first by a Philippine president since 2007, further solidifying a partnership poised to shape the regional security landscape in the years to come.