President of Philippine Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr landed in New Delhi, India on Monday for a 5-day visit. The visit will focus on deepening bilateral ties and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Philippine. This marks his first official visit to India since taking office in 2022.
Warm Reception in New Delhi
President Marcos, along with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level ministerial delegation, was welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. Sharing the update on X (formerly Twitter), the Ministry of External Affairs (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.”
Key Meetings and Engagements
During his visit, President Marcos is scheduled to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath, followed by official discussions with PM Modi at Hyderabad House. The talks will be followed by the signing of Memoranda of Understanding and the release of joint press statements.
He is also expected to hold meetings with Union Health Minister JP Nadda and President Murmu later in the visit. Following his engagements in the capital, President Marcos will head to Bengaluru to meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.
Expanding Bilateral Cooperation
The MEA noted that this state visit takes place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comes at a critical moment in the evolving Indo-Pacific partnership. The relationship between India and the Philippines, established in November 1949, has grown across sectors such as maritime security, defence, trade, healthcare, agriculture, digital technologies, and pharmaceuticals.
The Philippines is also an important partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. According to the MEA,
“India’s relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our ‘Act East’ Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific.”
Shared Democratic Values and Future Path
India and the Philippines enjoy a warm and multifaceted relationship, underpinned by historical ties and shared democratic ideals. The visit provides a platform for both countries to explore future avenues for bilateral and regional cooperation, with a focus on mutual strategic interests.
