Amid US-China tension, India and Philippines would benefit from closer ties

In recent years, the Philippines and India have deepened the institutionalisation of their partnership. While much of this has centred on maritime security, the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership offers scope for more comprehensive collaboration.

How the US and China recalibrate their ties will affect how other players navigate Indo-Pacific geopolitics. Therefore, it is crucial for India and the Philippines to continue exploring ways to broaden their cooperation. In which areas can the two countries maximise their strategic partnership?

First, the Marcos administration anchors its security partnerships on the recently implemented Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept, which prioritises territorial defence of the archipelago and the security of its surrounding waters, along with the interlinked maritime zones of the Western Pacific. The Philippines thus places great importance on its security partnership with India.