PH, India to conduct more maritime drills
Philippine News Agency
By Darryl John Esguerra
August 8, 2025, 8:49 pm
BENGALURU -- The Philippines and India have agreed to hold more joint maritime exercises, both bilaterally and with other nations, as part of efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the West Philippine Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday.
Speaking to the Philippine media delegation at the close of his five-day state visit to India, Marcos said New Delhi has committed to increasing its presence in the region, underscoring the shift from an "Asia-Pacific" to an "Indo-Pacific" strategic outlook.
"There is a commitment from India to have a larger profile in terms of the West Philippine Sea... We agreed that we should do more of it. And India has already made the policy decision to have more of a presence in the region," the President said.
Marcos noted that before he left Manila, two Indian naval vessels and two Philippine ships had already conducted exercises.
These activities, he said, would continue and expand.
While maritime security remains a key focus, Marcos stressed that cooperation should also extend to economic, trade, and other areas.
"Defense and security is only one dimension to the entire problem. So, we try to focus on everything, not just one aspect of the situation," he said.
The commitment follows recent bilateral talks between Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, which produced a strategic partnership agreement covering defense, trade, and other sectors. (PNA)
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