President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed for India on Monday, stressing the importance of forging a “strategic relationship” with the world’s fourth-largest economy to help preserve a “rules-based order in the international arena.”
Before boarding his flight, Marcos vowed to turn the vision of a closer partnership with India into reality, backed by high-level commitments from both government and business sectors.
“With the Philippines being the oldest constitutional democracy in Asia, and [India being] our continent’s largest democracy, our two countries share several core interests, such as our democratic ideals, our respect for basic freedoms, and the preservation of a rules-based order in the international arena,” the President said in his departure speech.
He cited the countries’ shared geostrategic position along vital Indo-Pacific trade routes, mutual concern for seafarers’ welfare, and commitment to international maritime law, particularly UNCLOS.
“I travel to India knowing that our commonalities will lead us to a deeper, broader, and more meaningful bilateral cooperation… that will ultimately serve [to promote] peace, the stability, and prosperity for our two nations and the wider Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Marcos’ trip follows recent joint maritime patrols between Manila and New Delhi in the West Philippine Sea and comes a year after the Philippines acquired BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India.
In addition to defense cooperation, Marcos aims to attract Indian investments in health, agriculture, and IT. He will personally lead a business delegation to New Delhi and Bengaluru to explore opportunities with industry leaders.
The visit coincides with the conclusion of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Philippine-Indian diplomatic ties. Marcos is expected to return by the end of the week.