President Marcos Jr. to Visit India from August 4 to Boost Strategic and Bilateral Ties

New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic outreach, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will undertake a State Visit to India from August 4 to 8, marking his first official visit since assuming office in 2022. The visit is expected to deepen cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the areas of defence, maritime security, and trade.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that President Marcos will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, and leading business figures. His itinerary includes official engagements in New Delhi, followed by a visit to Bengaluru.

During the visit, President Marcos will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5. He will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, while External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is expected to call on him.

India and the Philippines have shared diplomatic relations since November 1949. Over the decades, their partnership has grown steadily across sectors such as defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digital technology, healthcare, and maritime cooperation. Both countries also maintain close ties within regional frameworks like ASEAN, as part of India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to the MEA, the visit comes at a symbolic moment, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “India’s relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our ‘Act East’ Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific outlook,” the ministry stated.

The defence relationship between the two nations continues to evolve, with increasing naval collaboration. Most recently, Indian naval ships INS Mysore, INS Kiltan, and INS Shakti made a port call to the Philippines on July 30, where they received a warm welcome from the Philippine Navy.

President Marcos has previously expressed a strong interest in enhancing strategic ties with India. At the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he noted that the Philippines would seek greater collaboration with allies like India to ensure regional security and economic resilience.

The MEA emphasized that the visit provides a timely platform for both countries to explore new areas of engagement and strengthen cooperation on global and regional challenges of mutual concern.