NEW DELHI, India — The governments of the Philippines and India reached an agreement on Tuesday focusing on multiple areas of cooperation as the two countries elevated their relationship into a Strategic Partnership.

In a joint statement at Hyderabad House, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of taking the relationship between the Philippines and India to the next level.

“Today, our relationship enters a new epoch as Prime Minister Modi and I formally launch the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and India. For the Philippines, this is a momentous decision for we take a very good considered path to such elevated partnership,” Marcos said.

“Today, India becomes only the fifth strategic partner for the Philippines. This new apex attests as much to the remarkably rapid growth, broadening, and deepening of our 75-year-old bilateral relationship,” he added.

Thirteen new agreements were signed, expanding cooperation in areas such as defense, justice, science and technology, tourism, and digital transformation. Cooperation in space research and cultural exchanges also entered a new phase.

“We agreed to continue leveling up our collaboration and defense and security. We expressed satisfaction over the rapid pace of the Philippines’ ongoing defense modernization and expanding capabilities and footprints of India’s indigenous defense industry as a partner in this undertaking, exemplified by our BrahMos project,” Marcos said.

“We concurred that we should be accompanied by intensified dialogue and exchanges between our defense establishments,” he added.

Visa-free travel, direct flights

After the Philippines introduced visa-free entry privileges to Indian tourists, India responded by introducing free e-visas to Filipino travelers.

“I thank Prime Minister Modi in turn for the introduction of a scheme to grant visa-free travel to Filipino tourists traveling to India,” Marcos said.

In addition, direct flights between the Philippines and India are set to resume in October.

“We welcome the resumption of direct flights from October this year and renew our commitment to sustaining and expanding the direct air connectivity,” he added.

Defense and maritime cooperation

Marcos said that with the new agreements, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Indian forces will be able to share information, engage in service-to-service talks, and conduct training exchanges to boost the capabilities of both sides.

For sea-based units, the Philippines and India will conduct port visits, joint activities, and capacity-building efforts to enhance interoperability between their Navy and Coast Guard operations.

Trade and investment

Recognizing their shared economic growth, the Philippines and India have tasked their economic teams to explore new avenues for strengthening ties, with bilateral trade valued at US$3.3 billion in 2024.

“We have decided to expedite the work that we are doing to forge a bilateral preferential trade agreement. We look at leveraging mutual opportunities to boost two-way investment,” Marcos said.

The President is on the third day of his five-day visit to India.