BLESSED with a pivotal geography and a robust economy with an impressive growth target of 6.5 percent this year, the Philippines is unmistakably a key player in both regional and international affairs amid the constant shifts taking place in the geopolitical landscape. Moreover, as the Indo-Pacific construct continues to gain momentum, the Philippines is seen not only as a vital player among countries in Southeast Asia or the Pacific, but also an increasingly important partner among countries in the Indian Ocean region. As a result, the rise of the Indo-Pacific and President Rodrigo Duterte's approach toward an independent foreign policy have provided great opportunities for Manila to strengthen its partnerships with countries beyond its traditional neighborhood.

One of the most important foreign policy developments throughout the Duterte administration has been the reinvigoration of the Philippines-India partnership in economics and defense. While bilateral relations have been on an upward trajectory since the 1990s, the partnership received a much-needed boost since 2016. This is the result of the convergence between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East policy and President Duterte's strategy to diversify the Philippines' strategic engagements amid the intensifying power competition between the United States and China.

A major Indo-Pacific power and the world's largest democracy, India is currently the sixth largest economy with a vast market and an incredibly formidable military. Moreover, it has been widely accepted among other Southeast Asian countries as a capacity builder and a security provider that adheres to democratic and transparent principles for inter-state engagement. Furthermore, India also continues to enhance its capacity to manufacture quality defense equipment given its target to export aerospace and defense goods and services worth $5 billion by 2025. More importantly, India does not have any narrowly defined interests in Southeast Asia other than presenting itself as a responsible development and security partner amid the tumultuous geopolitical dynamics of the region.

Throughout the Duterte administration, there have been several noteworthy engagements between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Manila in 2017, 2019 and 2022, respectively, while President Duterte was invited as a chief guest for India's prestigious Republic Day celebration in 2018. In addition, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.'s India visit on April 23 this year has added further momentum. From strongly supporting the Philippines' position in the South China Sea to providing counterterrorism assistance and vital support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, India has shown its commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations with the Philippines.

One of the most important developments in the bilateral partnership was the successful BrahMos deal to bolster the Philippines' defense capacity. This also serves as a major stepping-stone to cement defense cooperation in the future. In fact, there are ongoing discussions of acquiring more defense systems and equipment from India. The Philippines-India partnership is based on shared values and motivations to contribute to each other's development and security. The Duterte administration has provided a great opportunity for both countries to strengthen their relations significantly. However, as the 2022 presidential election is only a few days away, it is worth pondering on the future of the Philippines-India partnership.

Looking into the recent election surveys, it is seen that former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. maintains a significant lead, while Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo comes in second. As an overview, it can be agreed that the trajectory vis--vis Philippines-India strategic relations will remain positive and fruitful. Indian ambassador to the Philippines Mr. Shambhu S. Kumaran rightfully said, "I don't see any significant change in the Philippines' foreign policy orientation... with regard to India, post-elections. Interactions with the other political formations indicate that there is considerable and continued interest in building a relationship with India."

Given that Marcos Jr. maintains this lead until the election, it can be anticipated that his administration will support stronger ties with India. He has emphasized his willingness to enhance security dialogue with key countries as long as the Philippines' national interest is respected and the country's alliance with the US is underscored. This converges greatly with the importance India puts on the concept of strategic autonomy.

India recognizes that cooperation must be a product of mutual concerns and goals without sidelining any party's national interest. Moreover, India is also a major defense partner of the US and engages significantly with many of the Philippines' development partners such as Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, it is important to note that the Philippines and India share common interests and concerns toward the stability of the region, particularly in the maritime domain, which contains vital sea lines of communication (SLOC) and a plethora of traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Therefore, expanding the strategic partnership by strengthening the role of maritime security should be a priority of the next administration. While the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships often formally visit the Philippines and vice versa, the absence of any annual or bi-annual joint naval exercises between the two countries must be addressed. Cementing maritime cooperation by conducting bilateral or multilateral naval exercises on the high seas will inevitably strengthen the strategic partnership of both countries and open new opportunities for more areas of collaboration.

Don McLain Gill is a resident fellow at the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC). He is a geopolitical analyst and author of over 100 publications on India-Southeast Asian relations, Philippine foreign policy, and Indian foreign policy.

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The present and future of the Philippines-India partnership - The Manila Times