India joins Philippines’ allies as 5th strategic partner

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August 5, 2025 | 6:15pm

NEW DELHI, India — The Philippines and India have finalized an agreement to establish a strategic partnership.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the development in a joint statement at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, following a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, August 5.

“Today, our relationship enters a new epoch, as Prime Minister Modi and I formally launched the strategic partnership between Philippines and India. For the Philippines, this is a momentous decision, for we take a very considered path to such elevated partnerships. Today, India becomes only the fifth strategic partner for the Philippines,” Marcos announced. 

Other strategic partners include Japan, Vietnam, Australia and South Korea.

With promises ranging from defense to technology, a total of 13 agreements were exchanged. These are: 

1. Exchange of Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Republic of the Philippines 
2. Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Republic of the Philippines (2025-2029)
3. Terms of Reference between the Indian Air Force and the Philippine Air Force on Air Staff Talks 
4. Terms of Reference between the Indian Army and the Philippine Army on Army-to-Army Staff Talks 
5. Terms of Reference between the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy on Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks
6. Treatment on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between the government of Republic of India and the government of Republic of Philippines
7. Treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between the government of Republic of India and the government of Republic of Philippines
8. Programme of Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology for the period of 2025-2028 between the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of India and the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of the Philippines
9. Implementation Program between the Department of Tourism of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of the Republic of India on Tourism Cooperation (2025-2028)
10. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on Cooperation in the Field of Digital Technologies.
11. Statement of Intent between Indian Space Research Organisation, Republic of India and the Philippine Space Agency, Philippines on Cooperation on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
12. Terms of Reference for Enhanced Maritime Cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard
13. Cultural Exchange Programme between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines