Modi, Philippines' Marcos Jr discuss India-ASEAN ties at 18th BRICS Summit
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi and Philippines President Marcos Jr. reviewed a fast-maturing Strategic Partnership — spanning defence, space, fintech, and creative industries — while Modi used the moment to signal India's deepening Act East Policy push through Manila's role as current ASEAN chair.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi and Philippines President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. met bilaterally on 13 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi .
Both leaders agreed to deepen the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership , established in August 2025 , across defence, trade, space, railway infrastructure, fintech, and people-to-people ties.
PM Modi welcomed the Philippines' participation at BRICS as the current ASEAN chair , highlighting India's intent to leverage the summit for Act East Policy goals.
The Philippines agreed to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) , a move welcomed by Modi.
NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were among officials present at the meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held a bilateral meeting on 13 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, focusing on deepening the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership and advancing India-ASEAN engagement. The meeting, held at Bharat Mandapam, brought together senior officials from both sides as India hosts the two-day summit in its capacity as BRICS chair in 2026.
Key Areas of Bilateral Cooperation
The two leaders reviewed the growing momentum in bilateral ties 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, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
The two leaders also agreed to advance bilateral relations under the framework of the Strategic Partnership established between India and the Philippines in August 2025 during President Marcos's State Visit to India. Prime Minister Modi additionally extended birthday wishes to President Marcos Jr. during the meeting.
India-ASEAN Dimension
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the Philippines' participation in the BRICS Summit as the current ASEAN chair, underscoring the significance of Manila's presence at the multilateral gathering. Modi also welcomed the Philippines' decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a grouping India helped found to strengthen climate and disaster resilience of infrastructure globally.
On his official X account, PM Modi wrote: 'Delighted to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Wished him a very happy birthday too. We reviewed the growing momentum in the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership. Key focus areas are: Economic linkages, Technology, Trade, Space, Innovation, Creative industry. We also discussed ways to further strengthen India-ASEAN engagement.'
Officials Present and Protocol
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials were present at the meeting. Prior to the formal talks, the two leaders warmly greeted each other, and President Marcos introduced Modi to the Philippine delegation.
Earlier in the day, President Marcos participated in the BRICS Summit's Session on 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The two leaders also joined heads of BRICS member nations, partner countries, and international organisations for a family photo on the second day of the summit. Marcos had also attended a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi for visiting leaders at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday evening.
BRICS Summit Context
The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi brings together leaders from the bloc's 11 member nations — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates — alongside 10 partner countries including Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. India's BRICS chairmanship places it at the centre of a rapidly expanding multilateral formation at a time of heightened global realignment.
The Modi-Marcos bilateral signals that India is leveraging the BRICS platform to simultaneously advance its Act East Policy and deepen ties with Southeast Asia's most strategically significant maritime nation, with formal follow-up steps expected in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
New Delhi is effectively lobbying Manila to carry the India agenda into Southeast Asian forums. The Strategic Partnership, only a year old, is already being accelerated, which suggests both sides see a narrowing window before regional geopolitics, particularly around the South China Sea, reshapes alignment calculus. What the readout does not say — but analysts will note — is that deepening India-Philippines defence cooperation is an implicit counter to Chinese maritime assertiveness, a dynamic that India is cultivating carefully without naming it directly.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi and Philippines President Marcos discuss at the BRICS Summit?
They reviewed progress under the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, trade, space, fintech, education, and people-to-people ties. They also discussed ways to strengthen India-ASEAN engagement, with the Philippines currently serving as ASEAN chair.
What is the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership?
The Strategic Partnership was established in August 2025 during President Marcos's State Visit to India. It provides a formal framework for bilateral cooperation across security, trade, technology, and diplomacy, and both leaders agreed on 13 September 2026 to advance it further.
Why did PM Modi welcome the Philippines at the 18th BRICS Summit?
PM Modi welcomed the Philippines as the current ASEAN chair, signalling India's intent to use the BRICS platform to deepen India-ASEAN engagement. The Philippines' presence as an outreach invitee elevates the diplomatic value of the bilateral meeting beyond just India-Philippines ties.
What is the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure that the Philippines joined?
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multilateral initiative, co-founded by India, that works to make infrastructure systems more resilient to climate change and natural disasters. PM Modi welcomed the Philippines' decision to join the coalition during the bilateral meeting.
Who else was present at the Modi-Marcos bilateral meeting?
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were among the senior Indian officials present. President Marcos also introduced PM Modi to his own delegation before the formal talks began.
