Modi, Philippines' Marcos Jr meet at BRICS Summit, vow to deepen Strategic Partnership
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi and Philippines President Marcos Jr. reinforced a Strategic Partnership barely a year old — extending it into space, fintech, and disaster resilience. With Marcos present as ASEAN chair and the Philippines joining India's CDRI, the meeting signals that India's Act East pivot is gaining concrete institutional weight.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi and Philippines President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. met bilaterally at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 13 September 2026 , on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit .
Both sides agreed to deepen the Strategic Partnership established during Marcos's State Visit to India in August 2025 .
Cooperation areas include defence and security, trade, space, railway infrastructure, fintech, education, tourism , and people-to-people ties .
Philippines joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , welcomed by PM Modi.
NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present at the meeting.
Marcos attended the summit as current ASEAN chair ; India is hosting BRICS as Chair for 2026 .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Sunday, 13 September 2026, agreeing to further advance ties under the Strategic Partnership established between the two nations in August 2025. The meeting, convened as India hosts the summit in its capacity as BRICS Chair for 2026, signals a deepening of the India-Philippines relationship beyond its traditional diplomatic contours.
Key Outcomes of the Bilateral Meeting
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress made in bilateral cooperation and agreed to deepen collaboration across defence and security, trade and investment, space, railway infrastructure, fintech, education, tourism, science and technology, innovation, and people-to-people ties. The breadth of the agenda reflects the multi-dimensional scope of the Strategic Partnership formalised during President Marcos's State Visit to India last year.
A notable development from the meeting was PM Modi welcoming the Philippines' decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) — an India-led multilateral initiative that now gains a significant Southeast Asian partner.
What the Leaders Said
The MEA statement quoted both sides as agreeing to 'further advance bilateral relations under the aegis of the Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in August 2025 during the State Visit of President Marcos to India.' The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation across all areas of the partnership.
Senior officials present at the meeting included National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, underscoring the strategic weight both sides attached to the engagement.
Philippines at the BRICS Summit
President Marcos participated in the BRICS Summit's session on 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' and joined leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, outreach invitees, and heads of international organisations for a family photo on the summit's second day. He had arrived in New Delhi on Saturday and attended a gala dinner hosted by PM Modi for visiting leaders at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday evening. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel received him at the airport.
Marcos is attending the summit in his capacity as current chair of ASEAN — a role that adds a layer of regional significance to his presence. The MEA described the Philippines as 'an important pillar of India's Act East policy,' with India and ASEAN maintaining a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership focused on trade, maritime security, and regional connectivity in the Indo-Pacific.
India-Philippines Ties: Broader Context
The bilateral meeting builds on momentum from the Strategic Partnership formalised barely a year ago. Both countries share converging interests in the Indo-Pacific, particularly around maritime security — a domain where the Philippines, facing persistent territorial tensions in the South China Sea, has increasingly sought to diversify security partnerships beyond its treaty alliance with the United States. India's expanding defence export profile and its push for greater engagement under the Act East Policy make Manila a natural partner in this evolving regional architecture.
This is the second known leader-level interaction between Modi and Marcos within a year, reinforcing the trajectory of the relationship. With sectoral cooperation now spanning space and fintech alongside traditional trade and defence pillars, the partnership is broadening in scope and depth.
What Comes Next
With the BRICS Summit providing a multilateral backdrop for a string of bilateral engagements, both sides are expected to operationalise the commitments made on Sunday through follow-up mechanisms under the Strategic Partnership framework. The Philippines' formal entry into the CDRI is likely to be the earliest tangible deliverable, while defence and space cooperation timelines remain to be detailed.
Point of View
Under pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea, is actively diversifying its security partnerships, and India's expanding defence export portfolio and Indo-Pacific posture make it an increasingly credible partner beyond Washington. The addition of space and fintech to the agenda alongside defence is significant: it maps out a technology-forward relationship that could outlast any single government's tenure. The real question is whether the breadth of commitments — spanning nine-plus sectors — will be backed by verifiable implementation milestones, or whether the partnership risks remaining a declaration of intent.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi and Philippines President Marcos Jr. agree on at the BRICS Summit?
The two leaders agreed to further advance bilateral ties under the Strategic Partnership established in August 2025, with commitments to deepen cooperation in defence and security, trade, space, fintech, railway infrastructure, education, and people-to-people ties. PM Modi also welcomed the Philippines' decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
When was the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership established?
The Strategic Partnership between India and the Philippines was established in August 2025 during President Marcos's State Visit to India. The 13 September 2026 BRICS sideline meeting is the first major leader-level follow-up since that milestone.
Why is Philippines President Marcos Jr. attending the BRICS Summit?
President Marcos Jr. is attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi as an outreach invitee, representing the Philippines in his capacity as the current chair of ASEAN. The Philippines is not a BRICS member or partner country, but was invited under India's chairmanship outreach framework.
What is the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that Philippines joined?
The CDRI is an India-led multilateral initiative focused on building climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure across member nations. The Philippines joining the coalition was welcomed by PM Modi during their bilateral meeting on 13 September 2026.
Who else was present at the Modi-Marcos bilateral meeting?
The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials from both sides. President Marcos also introduced PM Modi to his delegation ahead of the formal talks.
