Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will embark on a State Visit to India from August 4 to 8, marking his first trip to the country since taking office. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in defence, maritime security, and regional engagement.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that President Marcos will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, along with several Cabinet Ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. Besides New Delhi, he is also scheduled to visit Bengaluru.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host President Marcos for bilateral talks on August 5. The Philippine leader will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and be called on by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

India and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in November 1949. Over the decades, cooperation has grown across sectors such as trade, defence, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and digital innovation. The partnership also extends to regional frameworks like ASEAN, as part of India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision, including initiatives like Vision MAHASAGAR.

The MEA noted that President Marcos’ visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and will provide an opportunity to set future directions for cooperation.

India and the Philippines maintain strong naval ties. Indian naval ships frequently visit the Philippines, and Indian ports are used for maintenance of Philippine vessels. On July 30, INS Mysore, INS Kiltan, and INS Shakti were warmly welcomed by the Philippine Navy during a port call.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2024, President Marcos highlighted India as a key ally in advancing regional maritime cooperation.

The upcoming visit is expected to yield agreements and discussions on global and regional security issues of mutual interest.