Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a five-day state visit to India, a landmark trip that commemorates 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations and aims to deepen strategic, defence, and economic cooperation.
This is Marcos’s first visit to India since assuming office in 2022, and the first by a Philippine President in nearly a decade. He was received at the airport with ceremonial honours by Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs, and was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level ministerial delegation.
The Ministry of External Affairs described the visit as a “significant milestone” in the bilateral relationship, saying it was “an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
Posting on X, the MEA wrote, "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations."
During his stay, President Marcos will hold meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to lay a wreath at Rajghat and hold formal talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, followed by the signing of bilateral agreements and a joint press statement.
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Later, he will meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda and call on President Murmu. The Philippine leader will also travel to Bengaluru where he is expected to meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.
The visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and is widely seen as part of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, which seeks to bolster political and economic ties with ASEAN member states. The Philippines is also a key partner in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which encompasses maritime security, connectivity, and sustainable development under Vision MAHASAGAR.
India and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in November 1949. Since then, the partnership has expanded significantly, with defence and maritime cooperation emerging as key areas of convergence. The countries have conducted joint naval exercises and signed agreements in cybersecurity, health, and trade.
India has also supplied defence equipment including the BrahMos missile system to the Philippines, marking a new phase in bilateral security ties. Trade and investment relations have steadily grown, particularly in pharmaceuticals, IT, and digital technologies.
Cultural and educational exchanges, as well as collaborations in agriculture and healthcare, continue to add depth to the relationship, bolstered by shared democratic values and mutual interests in regional peace and stability.
The MEA stated that this visit is expected to chart new avenues of cooperation, “rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values.”
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