Marcos Begins India Visit to Boost Defence, Trade, and Indo-Pacific Ties

• India and Philippines to expand defence ties, including BrahMos missile cooperation.
•  First joint naval patrols in South China Sea signal strategic alignment.
• Talks on trade pact, investments, and visa-free travel for Indians underway.

Philippines President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on August 4, 2025, kicked off a five-day state visit to India, his first as head of state. The visit, which will extend until August 8, is intended to advance the bilateral relationship with a specific focus on defence, trade, maritime cooperation, and allied strategic sectors.

Marcos will have bilateral meetings with top Indian leaders, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, and sit down with External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar. His delegation comprises first lady Louise Araneta Marcos, top Cabinet ministers, officials, and business leaders. Bengaluru is also on the agenda prior to the departure of the delegation.

The focal point of the visit is increasing defence cooperation. The Philippines had also become India's first export customer for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in 2022, with deliveries starting in April 2024. Manila now desires to look into buying more military hardware, naval assistance, combined training and exercises, and revisions to existing defence?cooperation agreements like the 2006 security agreement.

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The two militaries have also initiated joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, the first ever for India–Philippine maritime cooperation, announcing their shared adherence to freedom of navigation and rules-based order as regional tensions with China rise.

On trade and economic ties, bilateral trade has grown steadilyreaching about US $3.5?billion in 2023–24with avenues opening in pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, electronics, agriculture, and services. Negotiations are underway toward a Preferential Trade Agreement, and both sides are seeking to enhance investment and connectivity, including visa-free travel arrangements for Indian tourists to the Philippines.

Witnesses in Manila and Delhi view this visit as a great chance to build on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, advance Indo?Pacific strategic interests further, and initiate new initiatives in defence, maritime security, technology, and economic cooperation.