Phl, India seal strategic partnership, ink 13 deals

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

During the joint statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, Marcos emphasized the importance of taking the Philippines-India relationship 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,” he 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.

With this, the Philippine and Indian governments signed 13 new agreements expanding cooperation in defense, justice, science and technology, tourism, and digital transformation.

Other matters, such as space research and cultural exchanges, have also reached a new stage.

“We agreed to continue leveling up our collaboration in 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,” he said.

“We concurred that [this] should be accompanied with intensified dialogue and exchanges between our defense establishments,” he added.

Enhanced defense cooperation

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

For sea-based units, the Philippines and India will conduct port calls, cooperative activities, and capacity building to ensure interoperability between naval and coast guard operations.

Two-way investment eyed

Recognizing the shared economic growth between the two countries, the Philippines and India have directed their respective economic teams to explore new pathways to ensure a continued upward trajectory, which was 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,” he said.

Visa-free for Pinoys, Indian nationals

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

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

In addition, direct flights to and from India will resume in October.

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

President Marcos is on his second day of a five-day visit to India.