Finance
Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to arrive in New Delhi on today, Monday for a five-day state visit focused at bolstering India-Philippines defence and trade cooperation.
This is his first official visit to India since assuming office in 2022.
President Marcos will arrive at New Delhi Airport in the afternoon, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level group that includes Cabinet Ministers, top officials, and business leaders. His visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding symbolic significance to the events scheduled for the coming days.
The visit is expected to result in enhanced strategic and defense cooperation, particularly in the marine sphere.
The Philippines was the first foreign country to acquire India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. The first batch of BrahMos missiles was delivered to the Philippines on April 19, 2024. During the visit, an agreement to strengthen defence partnership, notably in the area of marine security, is expected.
On August 5, President Marcos and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conduct bilateral talks. He will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, both of whom are due to meet in New Delhi on Monday.
The Philippine President is also slated to visit Bengaluru before leaving India on August 8.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the Philippines is an important partner in India’s Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific strategy. The connection is founded not only on geopolitical considerations, but also on strong historical and cultural links.
The Tagalog language contains several words of Sanskrit ancestry, and archeological finds such as the Laguna Copperplate inscription and the Agusan Tara monument attest to centuries-old links.
Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were formalized in November 1949. Bilateral ties have increased significantly since the implementation of India’s Look East Policy in 1992, which was later transformed into the Act East Policy, owing mostly to ASEAN cooperation.
President Marcos and Prime Minister Modi last met briefly in October 2024 on the fringes of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Lao PDR, and before that in Jakarta during the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in 2023.
Source: IANS
