President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. left Manila on Monday for his five-day official visit to India, expressing high hopes for deeper strategic cooperation with one of Asia’s largest democracies, particularly in defense, trade, maritime security, and technology.
In a speech delivered at Villamor Air Base before his departure, Mr. Marcos said the visit comes at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and marks the culmination of a year-long celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.
“It is with high expectations and much anticipation that I leave for New Delhi,” President Marcos said. “India has been a long-valued friend of the Philippines,” he added.
Mr. Marcos highlighted the longstanding cultural ties between the two nations, tracing Philippine influences in language, folklore, and traditions back to pre-colonial exchanges with Indian civilization.
“This visit to India will cap a year-long commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations,” the president said.
“Our bilateral relations have seen stable and comprehensive growth, extending across public and private sectors,” he added.
With India being the world’s most populous democracy and the Philippines the oldest constitutional democracy in Asia, Mr. Marcos said both nations share democratic ideals and a commitment to a rules-based international order.
He emphasized shared interests in maritime security, seafarer welfare, and upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Our geostrategic positions as coastal states that border the busiest international trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region provide a credible foundation for active and growing maritime cooperation,” President Marcos said.
President Marcos announced that the Philippines has granted visa-free privileges to Indian travelers in a move aimed at boosting tourism and enhancing cultural and economic exchange.
The president is leading a high-level delegation to New Delhi and Bengaluru, including several Cabinet members, to pursue business and investment partnerships, especially in the fields of IT, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and agriculture.
“I want this visit to bring concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine, greater connectivity, and food security,” he said.
Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of maximizing trade and investment opportunities with India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, and affirmed his administration’s goal of converting diplomatic vision into actionable partnerships.
“There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples,” he said.
“We intend to chart a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests,” he added.
The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced economic collaboration and strategic alignment between Manila and New Delhi amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos leaves Manila for 5-day India visit; eyes deeper trade, maritime ties.”
