President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heads off today, August 4, on a five-day State Visit to the Republic of India, upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After official meetings and events in New Delhi, the President and his delegation will travel to Bangalore. He will meet with the business sectors in both cities. The President will also have a meet and greet with the Filipino Community in New Delhi.
“There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples. We intend to explore these by charting a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests: from defense, to trade, investment, health, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, agriculture, tourism, and many other areas,” President Marcos said before his departure at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The last State Visit to India by a Philippine President was undertaken by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on in October 2007. Meanwhile, former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind undertook a State Visit to the Philippines in October 2019.
The Philippines and India are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2025.
President Marcos in his speech on Monday said that he wants the state visit “concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security.”
“I travel to India knowing that our commonalities will lead us to a deeper, broader, and more meaningful bilateral cooperation, both in the immediate future and up to our longer-term horizons, that will ultimately serve the peace, the stability, and prosperity for our two nations and the wider Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
In a Philippine News Agency report, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr said that the Philippines will be acquiring more military equipment from India as both countries strengthen defense ties.
The Philippines has previously ordered BrahMos cruise missile systems, which will be delivered within the next few years. The first BrahMos already arrived in April 2024.
Philippine and Indian Navy ships will hold a bilateral maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea this week, following a port visit of three ships from Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet in Manila last week.