Finance
India’s provision of Brahmos cruise missiles to the Philippines, making it the first foreign nation to acquire the missile weapon system developed by an India-Russia joint venture, marks a significant milestone for the Narendra Modi government, coming as the first of seven-phase elections in the world’s largest democracy begins on Friday.
In January 2022, BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) secured a $374.9 million contract with the Republic of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense to supply shore-based anti-ship missile systems to the Philippine Navy.
The move spotlighted the important role that the Philippines plays in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, its overall Indo-Pacific vision and was labeled by New Delhi as “an important step forward for Government of India’s policy of promoting responsible defence exports”.
The Philippine Defence Ministry confirmed that Brahmos will serve as a deterrent to any attempt to undermine its sovereignty and sovereign rights, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
Initially, the Philippines will acquire three batteries of six launchers and missiles. The contract also covers training for operators and maintainers, as well as the required Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) program.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited the Philippines this month and briefed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on recent advances in the India-Philippines alliance as well as concerted plans to strengthen bilateral ties.
In addition to seeing his counterpart Enrique A. Manalo, the EAM also met Gilbert Teodoro, Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines, to discuss the expanding cooperation in defense and maritime security.
“Substantive discussions were held on consolidating the ongoing momentum in bilateral defence ties through capacity building, joint exercises, information exchange and defence industrial collaboration,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on March 27.
Teodoro on the other hand, welcomed India’s “unwavering support” for the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue.
“Minister Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to upholding a rules-based international order and promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. As part of such efforts, both sides also agreed to promote collaboration among defence industries, enhance mobility and logistics cooperation, as well as explore investments on emerging technologies, cooperation on space domain awareness, and potential partnership on joint research and development (R&D),” stated the Philippines’ Department of Defence.
Addressing common security challenges and building robust defence and military partnerships with countries in the region has remained a top priority for the Modi government over the past 10 years.
BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 promises not only to protect the country’s security interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) but also vastly expanding the domestic defence manufacturing and exports of ‘Made in Bharat’ defence equipment.
This, it says, will be facilitated by accelerating indigenisation in major air and land equipment platforms.
“Expanding Bharat’s defence footprint across strategic locations and partner with friendly countries to protect Bharat’s and the Indian Ocean Region’s security interests,” it states.
The manifesto also lists promoting regional cooperation and ensuring stability and prosperity, making India a “trusted and responsible partner” in the subcontinent.
“Strengthening Maritime Vision (SAGAR), we will continue to collaborate with the countries of the Indo-Pacific Region for the security and growth of all in the region,” says the manifesto.
While the missile weapon system will assist the Philippines in safeguarding the region’s strategic waters, which include some of the world’s busiest sea lanes, Manila’s procurement will provide a significant boost to the government’s ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative, which was launched by Prime Minister Modi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated unequivocally that if India intends to become a global military power, it must first become self-sufficient in defense manufacture.
Source: OCN
