New Delhi: The growing engagement between the Philippines and India opens up an opportunity for the two states to elevate relations into a 'strategic partnership,' Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said. In a television interview during his official visit to India, Manalo highlighted that the India-Philippines relations have significantly advanced over recent years, particularly in trade and defense.

According to Philippines News Agency, Manalo expressed optimism about the future of the bilateral relationship, noting that cooperation is expanding in new areas such as energy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. He suggested that these developments could soon lead to an official strategic partnership between the two countries. Manalo emphasized that both Manila and New Delhi share a common perspective on maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Manalo also pointed out that the Philippines aims to expand cooperation with India amid increasing global geopolitical uncertainty. He underscored the importance of collaboration among countries of the South to ensure that global decisions are not dictated solely by a few powerful nations.

Currently in India to attend the 10th Raisina Dialogue, Manalo also participated in a session with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). During this interaction, he expressed the Philippines' interest in initiating negotiations for a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with India. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached around USD 3.5 billion in 2024, reflecting an 8.6 percent growth year-on-year, with the balance favoring Indian exporters.

On the defense front, India has successfully delivered BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in bilateral defense cooperation.