Marcos, Modi sign defense agreements in India
| Published August 7, 2025
A Landmark Elevation in Ties
On August 5, 2025, India and the Philippines officially upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, sealing 13 new agreements across multiple sectors including defence, maritime security, digital technologies, space cooperation, and tourism. Defence was the cornerstone—cementing mutual trust through military and security collaboration.
Defence & Maritime Integration
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Missile Collaboration: The Philippines emerged as the first international buyer of India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles—a US$375 million deal signed in January 2022. The first batch was delivered in April 2024, followed by a second battery in April 2025.
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Broader Missile Procurement: Manila is in advanced talks to procure up to nine BrahMos coastal batteries under its Integrated Shore‑Based Anti‑Ship Missile System project.
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Akash Surface‑to‑Air Missiles: India and the Philippines are considering a separate deal of around $200 million for the Akash air defence system.
Joint Naval Engagements and Connectivity
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Warship Deployment & Exercises: India deployed multiple warships—including INS Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan—to Manila in early August 2025 to enhance maritime interoperability. These visits included professional exchanges, cross-deck movements, and bilateral naval exercises.
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First Naval Drill in South China Sea: In parallel with the strategic partnership announcement, India and the Philippines conducted their first joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed West Philippine Sea/South China Sea on August 3–4, 2025.
Strategic and Geopolitical Implications
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Expanding Maritime Security Role: These developments mark India’s sharpened strategic posture in the Indo‑Pacific, particularly amid rising Chinese assertiveness around the South China Sea .
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Institutionalized Defence Mechanisms: The strategic pact includes reaffirmation and operational expansion of institutional bodies such as the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and the Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC), along with structured tri-service dialogues.
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Multisector Growth: Beyond the military realm, the partnership also spans developmental cooperation—from science & technology and digital innovations to tourism and space exploration—aligned under a 2025–2029 Plan of Action.
Implications of the India–Philippines Strategic Partnership:
1. Regional Deterrence Against China
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Message of Resolve: By acquiring Indian BrahMos missiles (which can hit naval targets over 290 km away at supersonic speed), the Philippines sends a clear signal of deterrence to Beijing over contested areas in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
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India’s Projection of Power: The deployment of Indian warships and the first-ever joint naval exercises in the South China Sea signify India’s increasing willingness to challenge Chinese maritime influence in Southeast Asia.
2. Stronger Indo-Pacific Bloc
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This partnership strengthens the network of like-minded democracies (India, Philippines, Japan, Australia, U.S.) pushing for a free and open Indo-Pacific. It complements other groupings like the Quad and ASEAN-led efforts, bolstering regional resilience against unilateral aggression.
3. Defence Industry Growth for India
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The Philippines becoming a repeat buyer of BrahMos and potentially other systems (Akash missiles, naval radars, etc.) boosts India’s defence export profile.
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It gives India a strategic foothold in Southeast Asia as a reliable arms supplier—a role traditionally dominated by the U.S., Russia, or China.
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Encourages India to expand Make in India–for the world defence initiatives and co-production offers for future buyers.
4. New Maritime Security Architecture
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The enhanced naval interoperability via exercises, port calls, and training opens the door to regular joint patrols or freedom-of-navigation operations (FONOPs), potentially including third-party players like the U.S., Japan, or Australia.
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Helps build a shared rules-based maritime security culture in ASEAN’s front-line states—vital for containing gray-zone aggression and coast guard harassment in contested waters.
5. Technology Transfers and Military Modernization
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The Philippines, which lacks a mature domestic military-industrial complex, can benefit from India’s willingness to share technologies, such as missile systems, naval electronics, radar systems, and UAVs.
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This reduces the Philippines’ dependence on U.S. or Chinese weapons and helps diversify its procurement.
6. Strategic Depth for India
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Having a strategic partner in the eastern maritime flank of the Indo-Pacific offers India depth and access for its naval outreach and logistical support.
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The India-Philippines maritime corridor may evolve into a forward-operating node for Indian naval diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
7. Potential for Multilateralization
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The partnership could evolve into mini-lateral formats, e.g., India–Philippines–Vietnam or India–Philippines–Japan, enhancing coordinated military training, intelligence sharing, and disaster response capacity.
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These alliances could neutralize China’s divide-and-conquer tactics in the region.
8. Civilian and Economic Spillovers
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Defence deals and strategic ties often open doors for civilian collaboration—in this case, on space cooperation, digital tech, AI, and infrastructure.
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Indian private firms (especially in defense-tech, cyber, and satellite domains) may find a new market in the Philippines.
Overall Takeaway: India–Philippines Strategic Partnership
The newly formalized India–Philippines Strategic Partnership is a bold step toward reshaping the security and economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific. At its heart is a shared commitment to defense cooperation, maritime security, and strategic autonomy in the face of rising regional tensions—especially China’s aggressive posture in the South China Sea.
For India, it marks a growing presence in Southeast Asia, boosting its image as a reliable security partner and defense exporter. For the Philippines, it diversifies its defense ties beyond the U.S., modernizes its military, and strengthens its position in maritime disputes.
This partnership is more than symbolism—it’s a pragmatic alignment of two democracies with overlapping interests in a rules-based, multipolar Indo-Pacific. It lays the foundation for long-term collaboration across defense, technology, economy, and beyond—making both countries more resilient, more interconnected, and more strategically relevant in the region.
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