As India and the Philippines celebrate 75 years of their diplomatic relations, it is pertinent to note that both have traversed a long path in their bilateral journey, holding common position on sensitive multilateral and regional issues, writes Mahesh Ranjan Debata
On November 13, External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr Subramaniam Jaishankar, along with the Ambassador of the Philippines to India Josel F Ignacio and the Vice-Minister of Tourism of the Philippines Maria Rica C. Bueno released a joint logo, commemorating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The logo has elements of the countries’ national flags and birds, signifying “enduring friendship, cultural bonds and shared values” they have maintained and sustained for over seven decades.
What is more important about this special occasion is that it coincides with the completion of 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s Act East Policy, within the ambit of which India shares a special relationship with this Southeast Asian nation.
The last couple of months have been eventful regarding the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
On September 9, 2024, during the 14th India-Philippines Policy Consultation Talks and the Fifth Strategic Dialogue, and subsequently on the occasion of first ASEAN-India Track 1 Cyber Policy Dialogue a month later on October 16, 2024, India and the Philippines agreed to enhance the existing cooperation in almost all the sectors, such as “defence and security, the maritime domain, trade and investment, healthcare, education, energy, agriculture, digital and financial technology, space, connectivity, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.” They vowed to take it to a new height.
Joint Commission of India-Philippines Bilateral Cooperation
The last one and half decades have witnessed a “growing and dynamic bilateral partnership” with the establishment of the Joint Commission on India-Philippines Bilateral Cooperation in 2011. The Joint Commission met further in 2013, 2015, 2020 and 2023, alternatively in New Delhi and Manila, providing the much-needed fillip to the bilateral relationship between the two through the signing of Joint Statements on their overall relationship.
It is essential to mention the outcomes of two Joint Commission meetings in 2013 and 2023. The Joint Commission meeting on October 21, 2013 emphasized the need to convene a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in 2014 at New Delhi, which symbolized the commitment of both nations to combat the global menace.
Last year (2023), India’s EAM and his Filipino counterpart discussed substantial cooperation in the above mentioned sectors. They signed the Joint Statement on the 5th India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation on June 29, 2023, which covered all the elements of bilateral cooperation. Both leaders stressed further expansion of cooperation in the two most important sectors, such as defence and trade.
Defence Cooperation
Defence cooperation included regular high-level interaction and dialogue between both countries’ defence agencies, training, and joint military exercises, and opening an Indian resident Defence Attache office in the Filipino capital. India agreed to extend a concessional Line of Credit to meet the defence requirements of the Philippines.
Within the ambit of this bilateral defence cooperation, the Philippines became the first overseas client of India’s Brahmos shore-based anti-ship missile. BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) signed a contract for a $375 million deal with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of Philippines on January 28, 2022 for supplying Brahmos missiles. This significantly boosts bilateral defence cooperation, specifically in India’s endeavour to become a major arms supplier worldwide under its ambitious ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programme.
Trade Cooperation
Trade has remained the mainstay of New Delhi-Manila overall cooperation in the last few decades. Trade between India and its Southeast Asian neighbour has increased in the last one and half a dozen years.
As per the Indian Commerce Ministry’s latest export-import data, the bilateral trade rose from $1 billion in 2010 to $ 1.9 billion in 2017 and nearly $3.6 billion in 2023-2024. During this period, India’s exports to the Philippines were $2.1 billion, and imports were almost $1.5 billion.
During the second quarter (April-August) of 2024-2025, the trade between the two countries was $1.337 billion. During this period, India’s exports were $931 million, and imports from the Philippines were $406 million.
Cooperation on Critical Regional and Global issues
In addition to cooperation at the bilateral level, both countries have a common position on sensitive multilateral issues (working within the ambit of the UN, terrorism, and climate change.) and regional issues (cooperation within the ASEAN framework, Indo-Pacific, etc.)
The steadfast support from Manila for India’s constant efforts for reform in the UN, especially in the UN Security Council, has added a new feather to their bilateral cooperation on international issues.
Manila’s appreciation for the successful organization of the Voice of the Global South Summit in India last year (2023) symbolizes their decade-long relations and efforts towards the developing world.
Besides, both countries have mutually agreed on a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region” so that this region is immune from any geopolitical tensions.
In addition, both countries have shown tremendous interest in highlighting how bilateral cultural connection matters the most in realizing the potential of their bilateral partnership.
Conclusion
Suppose one analyses the bilateral engagement between India and the Philippines in the last 75 years. In that case, he can deduce that the two countries’ friendship, relationship and partnership are based on their mutual trust, understanding, and agreement on various bilateral issues, from trade and investment to defence and security to a joint stand on regional and global issues.
Both nations know that specific problems, such as non-traditional security threats, confront humanity daily. Therefore, they make no stone unturned to raise concerns over these issues at regional and global fora.
The way this relationship has progressed in the last decade or so, one can quickly sum up that this will herald a new-age Strategic Partnership auguring well for both nations. For India, the Philippines has been and will be helpful in future in realizing its engagement with Southeast Asian countries under the auspices of its ambitious Act East Policy. For the Philippines, India will be a friend in the coming times.
(The writer teaches at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; views expressed here are his own) – India News Network ‘
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