Modi, Marcos Pledge Closer Defense Ties Amid Rising China Threat

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1. Submission Statement:

   Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met in New Delhi on Tuesday and agreed to deepen their military partnership, at a time when China is becoming increasingly assertive in the Indian Ocean.

   STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP:
   The two nations signed a declaration establishing a strategic partnership and announced plans for service-to-service talks aimed at enhancing information sharing and joint military training. “We will foster naval and coast guard interoperability via port calls, cooperative activities and capacity building in the maritime domain,” Marcos said.

   MARITIME SECURITY:
   Efforts to forge closer maritime cooperation come as both nations have faced similar security concerns. Manila has a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea while New Delhi has a border row with China over the Himalayas.
   Before Marcos left for India, the Philippine and Indian navies for the first time held a two-day joint maritime exercises from Sunday in waters facing the South China Sea, according to Manila’s military.

   ARMS TRADE:
   Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jr. has said Manila is looking at ordering more weapons systems and equipment from India. The Philippines previously purchased a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India’s BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., a contract worth 18.9 billion pesos ($329 million), as the nation boosts its coastal defense.

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