{"id":39879,"date":"2025-08-05T15:53:22","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/breakthrough-strategic-pact-india-and-philippines-forge-bold-ties-after-75-years\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T15:53:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:23:22","slug":"breakthrough-strategic-pact-india-and-philippines-forge-bold-ties-after-75-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/breakthrough-strategic-pact-india-and-philippines-forge-bold-ties-after-75-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Breakthrough Strategic Pact: India and Philippines Forge Bold Ties After 75 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

New Delhi [India], August 5:<\/b> It wasn\u2019t a flashy affair. No sky banners, no roaring applause. Just two leaders, one from Delhi, the other from Manila, walking down a diplomatic path with quiet confidence and something more, mutual respect.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Philippines\u2019 President arrived in India, but it didn\u2019t feel like a routine trip. Something about it was different. You could sense it from the body language, the tone of the statements, even the cultural nods, \u201cMabuhay,\u201d said the Indian PM, with a smile that didn\u2019t feel rehearsed.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, both countries complete 75 years of formal diplomatic relations. That\u2019s a number. But the bond? That goes deeper, older, maybe even forgotten for a while. As PM Modi pointed out, the Ramayana itself, or at least its cousin version, <\/span>Maharadia Lawana<\/span><\/i>, lives in the Philippines too. That\u2019s not just heritage. That\u2019s shared cultural DNA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not Just a Title, but a Test<\/b><\/h3>\n

So what came out of this visit? A lot, actually. But let\u2019s start with the headline: India and the Philippines have decided to become <\/span>Strategic Partners<\/b>. It\u2019s official now. Not just handshakes and high tea. A full action plan has been signed and is ready to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s something refreshing about the honesty here. Both sides admit that while trade has reached the 3 billion dollar mark, it can go further. And it should. They\u2019re pushing to fast-track the <\/span>ASEAN Free Trade Agreement<\/b><\/a> review, and now, for the first time, they\u2019re discussing a bilateral preferential trade deal too.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not all about money. In fact, what made this visit interesting was how scattered, in a good way, the areas of cooperation are. Tech, health, automobiles, even rice research made the cut. Yes, rice. At a lab in Varanasi, scientists are developing rice with a super-low glycemic index. Healthier, smarter, probably tastier too. Turns out, food science is a part of diplomacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Philippines\u2019<\/p>\n

Space, Science, and Some Serious Stuff<\/b><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a lot happening behind the scenes. Artificial Intelligence, virology, and additive manufacturing, joint research is underway. A fresh science and tech cooperation roadmap was signed, giving the whole thing structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

And here\u2019s the kicker: India and the Philippines are now working on <\/span>space collaboration<\/b>. No exaggeration. An agreement is in place, laying the groundwork for joint work beyond the atmosphere. No drama, just a quiet step toward a bigger frontier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Honestly, this part of the visit didn\u2019t get much press. But it probably should have.<\/span><\/p>\n

Security, the Sea, and a Signal to the Region<\/b><\/h3>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the waters. India and the Philippines both sit in a complex ocean neighborhood. So naturally, defence matters came up, and not just in words.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the two leaders met in Delhi, three Indian naval ships were already participating in joint drills off Philippine shores. That\u2019s a first. And they weren\u2019t alone. A hydrography ship was there too, mapping and monitoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

Legal ties in security also deepened. New agreements on mutual legal help and transferring sentenced persons were signed. Again, not flashy. But important.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then came a moment that hit home. The Philippine President condemned the <\/span>Pahalgam terrorist attack<\/b> in Kashmir. It wasn\u2019t performative. It felt like solidarity, plain and clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

India, for its part, welcomed the Philippines into the <\/span>Indian Ocean Fusion Centre<\/b>, a regional node for maritime intelligence sharing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visas, Flights, and Faces<\/b><\/h3>\n

There were things in this visit that will directly impact ordinary people. The Philippines announced <\/span>visa-free entry for Indian travellers<\/b>. A big deal, especially for young tourists and business folk. India responded with free e-visas for Philippine nationals.<\/span><\/p>\n

And yes, plans are already in motion to launch <\/span>direct flights between Delhi and Manila<\/b>. It\u2019s about time. A Cultural Exchange Programme was also signed. This isn\u2019t the kind that gets printed and forgotten. From performances to exhibits and educational tie-ups, it has the potential to keep this relationship alive where it matters, in hearts, not headlines.<\/span><\/p>\n

India also offered support in building cloud data infrastructure in the Philippines. Not very romantic, but pretty vital in today\u2019s world. Plus, they\u2019ll be adding more Quick Impact Projects, small, fast, local development efforts with big visibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond Diplomacy, Toward Direction<\/b><\/h3>\n

The big picture? Both countries want a free, peaceful Indo-Pacific. They believe in rules, in order, in keeping the seas open. That much was made clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

And with the Philippines set to lead ASEAN next year, India has offered full support. That could mean more influence, more stability, and perhaps, fewer surprises in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Prime Minister Modi ended with a line that sounded more poetic than political: \u201cIndia and the Philippines are friends by choice, and partners by destiny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You don\u2019t hear that kind of phrasing every day. But maybe you should.<\/span><\/p>\n

PNN News<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Delhi [India], August 5: It wasn\u2019t a flashy affair. No sky banners, no roaring applause. Just two leaders, one from Delhi, the other from Manila, walking down a diplomatic path with quiet confidence and something more, mutual respect. The Philippines\u2019 President arrived in India, but it didn\u2019t feel like a routine trip. Something about…<\/p>\n

Read More “Breakthrough Strategic Pact: India and Philippines Forge Bold Ties After 75 Years”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[635],"class_list":["post-39879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national","tag-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39879"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39879\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}