Philippines President Marcos Jr. to Visit India as Maritime Cooperation Expands

In a significant step toward bolstering bilateral ties, India will host Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. from August 4 to 8, 2025. This marks his first official visit to India, and the first by a Philippine head of state since his father, President Ferdinand Marcos, visited in 1976.

President Marcos Jr.'s visit underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and the Philippines, particularly in maritime security and regional stability. Both nations are strong advocates for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea.

The visit will formally commence with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a tribute at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial in Rajghat. President Marcos Jr. will then hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Multiple agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the bilateral meeting.

On August 7, the Philippine President will travel to Bengaluru to explore India's innovation and technology hubs, further strengthening cooperation in defense, digital technologies, and capacity building.

The visit comes on the heels of sustained high-level engagements between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi and President Marcos Jr. previously met during the ASEAN-India Summits in Jakarta (September 2023) and Vientiane (October 2024).

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has also been actively engaging with the Philippines. He met Foreign Secretary Enrique A. Manalo during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in March 2025 and again in Vientiane in July. Dr. Jaishankar also visited Manila in March 2025, meeting with top defense and foreign officials and calling on President Marcos Jr.

The visit closely follows the arrival of Indian Navy warships INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan at the Port of Manila on August 1. The Indian Eastern Fleet, led by Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, is conducting joint maritime patrols with the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippines Armed Forces Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., described the naval presence as a “clear demonstration” of the shared commitment to securing maritime domains and upholding international maritime laws.