Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., witness the Exchange of MoUs between India and Philippines at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on August 05, 2025.
Modi, Marcos Jr. Deepen Ties with Defence, Trade Agreements
New Delhi: India and the Philippines today elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to India, commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The two nations signed 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, digital technology, space, tourism, and culture. Both countries adopted Terms of Reference for negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement to strengthen bilateral trade.
Key announcements included visa-free entry for Indian tourists to the Philippines, gratis e-tourist visas for Filipino nationals for one year from August 2025, and the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp featuring the national flowers of both countries, symbolising their deep cultural ties rooted in centuries-old connections, such as the Philippines’ Maharadia Lawana, a local adaptation of the Ramayana.
India also announced its support for a pilot project for the Philippines’ Sovereign Data Cloud Infrastructure to enhance digital capabilities. It extended an invitation to the Philippines to join the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region for maritime security.
The following key outcomes were formalised during the visit
- Declaration on Strategic Partnership: Establishes India-Philippines Strategic Partnership to deepen bilateral ties.
- Strategic Partnership Plan of Action (2025-29): Comprehensive roadmap for cooperation across sectors for 2025-29.
- Terms of Reference: Indian Air Force & Philippine Air Force: Framework for regular Air Staff Talks to enhance air force collaboration.
- Terms of Reference: Indian Army & Philippine Army: Framework for Army-to-Army Staff Talks to strengthen military ties.
- Terms of Reference: Indian Navy & Philippine Navy: Framework for Navy-to-Navy Talks to bolster naval cooperation.
- Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters: Facilitates legal cooperation in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
- Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons: Enables transfer of sentenced individuals between India and the Philippines.
- Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology (2025-28): Promotes joint research in virology, AI, and additive manufacturing.
- Implementation Programme on Tourism Cooperation (2025-28): Enhances tourism collaboration through joint initiatives and promotions.
- MoU on Cooperation in Digital Technologies: Supports development of digital infrastructure, including data cloud systems.
- Statement of Intent on Space Cooperation: Facilitates collaboration between ISRO and Philippine Space Agency for peaceful space exploration.
- Terms of Reference for Enhanced Maritime Cooperation: Strengthens cooperation between Indian and Philippine Coast Guards.
- Cultural Exchange Programme: Promotes cultural exchanges to deepen historical and people-to-people ties.
President Marcos Jr. was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan with a 21-gun salute and an inspection of the honour guard, followed by comprehensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. The leaders reviewed the growth in bilateral trade, which has surpassed USD 3 billion, and committed to expediting the review of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement while initiating negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Modi emphasised the long-standing dialogue and cooperation across all levels, noting that the Strategic Partnership, underpinned by a five-year Plan of Action (2025-29), would transform potential into tangible outcomes.
Defence and security cooperation were central to the discussions. Agreements were signed to establish frameworks for regular Air Staff Talks between the Indian Air Force and the Philippine Air Force, Army-to-Army Staff Talks between the Indian Army and the Philippine Army, and Navy-to-Navy Talks between the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy. Enhanced maritime cooperation was formalised through Terms of Reference between the Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard, with the Philippines invited to join the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to strengthen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for President Marcos Jr.’s strong condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and reaffirmed their joint resolve to combat terrorism. Two treaties—on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons—were signed to further bolster security collaboration.
In science and technology, a Programme of Cooperation (2025-28) was established between the Department of Science and Technology of India and its Philippine counterpart to advance joint research in virology, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing. The International Rice Research Institute’s regional centre in Varanasi was highlighted for its innovative work on ultra-low glycaemic index rice, blending “taste and health.” India pledged support for a pilot project to develop the Philippines’ sovereign data cloud infrastructure and committed to expanding Quick Impact Projects under its Development Partnership. A landmark Statement of Intent between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Philippine Space Agency was signed to foster collaboration for the peaceful use of outer space, marking a new frontier in bilateral ties.
Tourism and cultural exchanges were strengthened through an Implementation Programme on Tourism Cooperation (2025-28) between India’s Ministry of Tourism and the Philippines’ Department of Tourism, alongside a Cultural Exchange Programme to deepen historical people-to-people ties.
The Philippines’ decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian tourists was reciprocated by India’s announcement of free e-tourist visas for Filipino nationals. Plans for direct flights between Delhi and Manila were outlined to enhance connectivity. President Marcos Jr.’s meeting with the Filipino community at the Taj Mahal Hotel on August 4, 2025, underscored the vibrant Filipino diaspora’s role in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people connections.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, supporting freedom of navigation and international law. With the Philippines set to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 and serve as India’s ASEAN country coordinator until July 2027, both nations pledged to deepen India-ASEAN ties. The visit, which included a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, highlighted shared values uniting the two maritime nations. As Prime Minister Modi stated, “India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny,” united across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
– global bihari bureau
