[Answered] The improving India-Philippines relations underscore shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. Examine how this bilateral cooperation can enhance regional stability and India’s Act East policy objectives.

Introduction

India–Philippines ties, elevated to a Strategic Partnership in August 2025, reflect converging strategic, economic, and security interests in the Indo-Pacific, complementing India’s Act East Policy and ASEAN centrality principles.

Strategic Convergence in the Indo-Pacific

1. Rules-based order: Both countries support a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific anchored in UNCLOS (1982) and peaceful dispute resolution, including recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.
2. ASEAN centrality: Reinforces multilateral diplomacy, aligning with India’s vision of engaging Southeast Asia as a core partner in regional stability.

Maritime Security and Defence Cooperation

1. Institutional mechanisms: Strengthened through the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee and Strategic Dialogue.
2. Capacity building: Joint training, shipbuilding, and coastal surveillance enhance maritime domain awareness.
3. Counterbalance to China: Collaboration provides a strategic hedge against coercive actions in contested waters, supporting freedom of navigation.

Economic Synergy and Connectivity

1. Bilateral trade: Stood at USD 3.3 billion in 2024–25; planned Preferential Trade Agreement will further integrate supply chains.
2. Sectoral cooperation: Renewable energy, critical minerals, and digital technologies reduce dependence on single-source supply chains, a key Indo-Pacific economic resilience goal.
3. Connectivity initiatives: Enhanced air, maritime, and digital links support India’s “Act East” physical and digital corridor ambitions.

Science, Technology, and Innovation Diplomacy

1. Joint research: Space, nuclear energy, and agriculture collaborations improve technological self-reliance.
2. Critical minerals: Access to Philippine reserves can aid India’s EV and semiconductor goals, contributing to strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific tech race.

Cultural and People-to-People Diplomacy

1. Historical linkages: Rooted in the 1952 Treaty of Friendship and shared Asian identity.
2. Soft power projection: Educational initiatives like ITEC, cultural exchanges, and tourism promote goodwill and public diplomacy, critical for Act East outreach.

Multilateral and Global Governance Coordination

1. Climate change & sustainability: Cooperation in the International Solar Alliance aligns with global green transition efforts.
2. Voice of the Global South: Joint advocacy for equitable multilateral systems enhances the bargaining position of developing nations in global forums.
3. Counter-terrorism collaboration: Supports regional stability by tackling transnational threats.

Contribution to India’s Act East Policy Goals

1. Geopolitical footprint: Expands India’s engagement beyond its immediate neighborhood to the Western Pacific.
2. Balancing regional powers: Strengthens India’s role as a security provider in Southeast Asia.
3. Trade diversification: Opens alternative markets and reduces overdependence on traditional partners.

Conclusion

The India–Philippines Strategic Partnership advances both nations’ security, economic, and diplomatic interests, reinforcing regional stability while giving India’s Act East Policy greater strategic depth and operational relevance.