New Delhi and Manila have agreed to boost their defense and security cooperation, in addition to focusing on trade

India and Philippines announced the establishment of a strategic partnership, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, on Tuesday.

The countries, which are marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, have decided to expand economic as well as defense ties.

"We have decided to take our relations to the level of strategic partnership," Modi said at a joint press briefing with Marcos in New Delhi on Tuesday. "Our bilateral trade is rising constantly, and it has crossed $3 billion. To further strengthen it, our priority is to complete an India-Asean Free Trade Review as soon as possible."

The Philippine President said his visit to India this week is a reaffirmation of the bilateral partnership that the countries "are strengthening," and highlighted the island nation's acquisition of BrahMos cruise missiles.

"We express satisfaction with the rapid pace of the Philippines' ongoing defense modernization and the expanding capabilities and footprint of India's indigenous defense industry as a partner in this undertaking, as exemplified by our BrahMos project," Marcos said. 

The island nation became the first outside India to buy the BrahMos missile system, when it signed a $375 million deal with the Indo-Russian joint venture in 2022 for three BrahMos batteries. A battery typically includes multiple launchers, command posts, and associated equipment that are designed for land, sea, or air-based deployment.

New Delhi and Manila collaborate at the regional level through initiatives such as India's partnership with ASEAN. A comprehensive action plan is also being made to transform this partnership into results, Modi said during his talks with Marcos.

Modi and Marcos agreed to establish mechanisms for ongoing communication between their military, which would enhance dialogue and exchanges between their defense establishments.

The Asian nations also agreed to cooperate in areas such as information technology, space and tourism, the Indian Foreign Ministry said.