India and Philippines Hold Fifth Joint Defence Cooperation Committee Meeting in Manila

Manila: The fifth meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) took place today in Manila, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary, Giridhar Aramane, and the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Defence of the Philippines, Irineo Cruz Espino.

During the discussions, both sides reviewed the progress of their bilateral defence cooperation, particularly the outcomes of the third Service-to-Service interactions held a day earlier, on September 10, 2024. The co-chairs expressed satisfaction with the enhancement of cooperation across all sectors, reflecting the strengthening ties between India and the Philippines in the field of defence.

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane commended the Philippines’ Self Reliance Defence Posture Act, which aims to modernize its armed forces. He drew parallels to India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, noting that India’s defence industry is significantly enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and actively exporting equipment globally.

The Indian Defence Secretary extended an invitation to the Philippines to collaborate with India in the co-development and co-production of defence equipment, offering opportunities for both nations to further their self-reliance goals. The Philippines, in turn, welcomed investments in long-term equity partnerships to establish assured supply chains, while also appreciating India’s success in defence industry indigenisation.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other in achieving self-reliance in defence production, viewing this collaboration as a significant step towards enhancing their defence capabilities.

A notable achievement discussed at the JDCC meeting was the operationalisation of the White Shipping Information Exchange, a vital step in enhancing maritime security through the sharing of key maritime data. Both sides also welcomed the upcoming establishment of a defence wing at the Embassy of India in Manila, which is expected to further bolster bilateral defence relations.

India also acknowledged the Philippines’ role as a coordinating country for India in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), which will foster stronger multilateral cooperation in defence and security. Giridhar Aramane emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration in regional and global forums.

During his visit, the Indian Defence Secretary called on Gilbert Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro Jr., Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, to convey greetings from India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.

The JDCC was initially established under the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed between India and the Philippines in 2006. In a significant milestone, this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines and 10 years of India’s Act East policy. As a reflection of the growing importance of the partnership, the co-chairmanship of the JDCC has been elevated to the Secretary-level.