PartnershipsSouth AsiaSoutheast Asia

India-Philippines defense talks focus on coproduction, maritime security

Mandeep Singh

India and the Philippines further solidified their defense relationship during the fifth Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting in Manila in September 2024. Co-chaired by Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Philippine Senior Undersecretary for Defense Irineo Cruz Espino, the meeting emphasized cooperation in defense production, regional security and strategic collaboration against a backdrop of shared concerns over the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) assertiveness in the region.

India and the Philippines have had direct confrontations with the PRC in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively. The ongoing tensions have prompted New Delhi and Manila to strengthen defense partnerships, including deeper collaboration with partners such as the United States, and now increasingly with each other.

The JDCC meeting, a key forum established under the nations’ 2006 defense cooperation agreement, marked a milestone in bilateral ties, now elevated to the defense-secretary level.

The talks focused on service-to-service interactions and exploring avenues for defense equipment collaboration. Aramane highlighted the Philippines’ ongoing military modernization, comparing it to India’s self-reliance doctrine, according to India’s Defence Ministry. He invited Manila “to partner with the Indian defence industry in co-development and co-production of equipment.”

The Philippines, in turn, expressed interest in long-term partnerships to promote supply chain resilience.

A centerpiece of the evolving defense relationship is India’s delivery of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to the Philippines, part of a $375 million contract signed in 2022, according to India’s External Affairs Ministry. The BrahMos deployment is considered a significant enhancement to the Philippines’ long-range defense capabilities, particularly in deterring potential PRC aggression in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, which runs between the Philippines and self-governed Taiwan, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank.

At the JDCC meeting, Indian officials welcomed the Philippines’ role as a coordinating country for India at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, a key platform for regional defense dialogue. Officials from both nations also noted the operationalization of the White Shipping Information Exchange, a mechanism for sharing maritime data.

The meeting coincided with other high-profile engagements, including between Aramane and Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura, vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They discussed enhancing bilateral defense relations, joint training and exercises, and sharing best practices on addressing regional security challenges, the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

“Lt. Gen. Cordura expressed appreciation for the growing partnership with India, recognizing the significant role it plays in promoting a free, open, and rules-based regional order. He emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration and engagements that contribute to the peace and security of both nations,” AFP spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad told PNA.

During his meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Aramane praised Manila’s commitment to the rule of law and expressed interest in strengthening defense cooperation by sharing knowledge and technologies, PNA reported.

Mandeep Singh is a FORUM contributor reporting from New Delhi, India.

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