External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Manila and met Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to convey Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and India’s support for Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN. The cooperation between India and Philippines within their Strategic Partnership is expanding, with the implementation of the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029. Jaishankar’s visit includes participation in Foreign Minister level meetings under the ASEAN framework to enhance bilateral ties.
During his visit, Jaishankar also held discussions with Philippines Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. They focused on areas such as trade, investment, education, defense, security, maritime cooperation, capacity building, and development cooperation. Both leaders reviewed recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region to align their strategic interests and cooperation.
Ambassador of the Philippines to India, Josel F Ignacio, emphasized the importance of Jaishankar’s visit to Manila, highlighting the regular high-level engagements between the two countries. He noted the positive outcomes of the meetings, including discussions on mutual interests and the significance of forums like the ASEAN–India Post-Ministerial Conference and the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting held in Manila. The ongoing dialogue and cooperation between India and the Philippines reflect a commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership.
