India-Philippines Relations

India and the Philippines built ties slowly, for 75 years. Then a missile deal, and a state visit, changed everything.

MCQquestion.com

IntlRel0082 · International Relations

India-Philippines: 75 Years On

From quiet Cold War distance to missiles and a Strategic Partnership

1949

Diplomatic relations established

India and the Philippines formally establish diplomatic ties, soon after both nations gain independence.

1952

Treaty of Friendship signed

Cold War dynamics still limit deeper ties. India’s non-alignment stance contrasts with Manila’s US alliance.

1992

Look East Policy

India’s new policy catalyses ties with ASEAN. The Philippines becomes a key Southeast Asian partner.

2022

$375 million BrahMos deal

India’s first-ever BrahMos export. The Philippines becomes the missile’s first foreign buyer.

Apr 2024

First BrahMos batch delivered

India delivers the first BrahMos missile batteries. A second batch follows in April 2025.

Aug 2025

Strategic Partnership

President Marcos’s state visit elevates ties, on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Slow, Then Sudden

75 years of largely dormant ties, then a rapid acceleration in under a decade — once a defence deal and shared regional interests gave both sides a reason to invest.

Download as image International Relations

Timeline

• 1949: India and the Philippines establish formal diplomatic relations, soon after both nations gain independence.
• 1952: The two countries sign a Treaty of Friendship. Cold War dynamics still keep ties limited.
• 1992: India’s Look East Policy catalyses closer ties with ASEAN, including the Philippines.
• 2022: India and the Philippines sign a $375 million deal for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile — India’s first-ever BrahMos export.
• April 2024: India delivers the first batch of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines.
• August 2025: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a state visit to India. The two countries elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Must Know

• India and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in 1949.
• In August 2025, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a state visit to India. The two countries elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership.
• The visit marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• Both sides adopted a Plan of Action (2025-2029), to guide cooperation across sectors.
• The Philippines is a key Southeast Asian partner in India’s Act East Policy, the successor to the 1992 Look East Policy.

Good to Know

• In 2022, India and the Philippines signed a $375 million deal for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. It was India’s first-ever export of the BrahMos system.
• India delivered the first batch of BrahMos missiles in April 2024, and a second batch in April 2025.
• Bilateral trade has grown steadily. It rose from about $1.98 billion in 2016-17, to $3.05 billion in 2022-23.
• Both countries are also negotiating a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
• India offers Philippine nationals a gratis e-tourist visa. The Philippines, in turn, allows Indian tourists visa-free entry, for up to 14 days.

Test Yourself

Please wait…

1. India and the Philippines established formal diplomatic relations in which year?

1947

1962

1949

1955

 Loading…

 

Great to Know

• Cold War-era ties stayed thin for decades. India’s non-alignment stance contrasted with the Philippines’ formal US alliance, limiting engagement mostly to multilateral forums.
• The BrahMos deal marks a real shift for India, from being mainly a defence importer, to a genuine defence exporter.
• The partnership sits inside a bigger regional picture. The Philippines has looked to India partly to help balance China, amid ongoing South China Sea tensions.
• The 75-year “slow but steady” arc shows how bilateral ties can stay dormant for decades. They can also accelerate quickly, once strategic interests align.

Current Affairs

• On 12 August 2026, the Philippines said BrahMos missile deliveries from India remain on track. (Source: The Indian Eye)
• Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio called the BrahMos system a source of “credible deterrence”, for the Philippines’ territorial defence. (Source: The Indian Eye)
• In June 2026, at the 14th Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment meeting, in Manila, bilateral trade reached $3.9 billion for 2025-26. (Source: ISEAS Perspective)
• In March 2026, the two countries held their 2nd India-Philippines Maritime Dialogue, in New Delhi. It focused on deepening joint naval coordination and coast guard cooperation. (Source: ISEAS Perspective)