Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar called on Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, 23 July 2026, conveying the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reaffirming India's support for Manila's chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The meeting underscored the deepening of the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership through the ongoing implementation of the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029.

Context

Dr. Jaishankar posted on X that he was 'honoured to call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines,' noting that bilateral cooperation 'continues to diversify as we implement the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029.' The call was accompanied by the flags of both nations, signalling the warmth of the bilateral relationship. India and the Philippines are currently guided by a structured five-year action plan that spans defence, maritime security, trade, health and digital cooperation.

Policy Backdrop

India and the Philippines elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2015 during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Manila, establishing a durable framework for cooperation across multiple sectors. The relationship sits firmly within India's broader Act East Policy, which prioritises deepening engagement with Southeast Asian nations through structured bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. The Plan of Action 2025–2029 represents the latest iteration of this framework, translating the Strategic Partnership into actionable milestones across an expanding range of sectors.

ASEAN, the ten-member regional bloc, counts India as a key dialogue partner. With the Philippines holding the ASEAN chairship, New Delhi's explicit endorsement of Manila's leadership role carries both diplomatic and strategic weight, reinforcing India's commitment to ASEAN centrality at a moment of heightened regional significance.

Stakeholders and Impact

The meeting is of direct relevance to the foreign ministries of both nations, as well as to ASEAN partners watching how the Philippine chairship shapes the bloc's agenda. For India, the engagement signals continuity in its outreach to maritime Southeast Asia, a region of growing importance for trade, connectivity and security. Businesses and institutions operating in sectors such as digital technology, health and defence stand to benefit as the Plan of Action 2025–2029 moves toward implementation milestones.

The personal delivery of PM Modi's greetings by a senior Cabinet minister also reflects the high political priority New Delhi places on the bilateral relationship, reinforcing people-to-people and institutional ties between the two democracies.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the rollout of specific milestones under the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029, as well as India's participation in ASEAN-India summits and ministerial meetings during the Philippine chair year. High-level diplomatic momentum of this kind typically precedes concrete deliverables — whether in the form of joint working group meetings, bilateral trade reviews or defence cooperation exercises. The trajectory of India-Philippines ties will be a useful indicator of how effectively India's Act East Policy translates into tangible outcomes across Southeast Asia.