Josel F. Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India, on Wednesday, 22 July described bilateral relations between the two nations as being at an 'all-time high', praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and crediting him with transforming India's global standing. Speaking in New Delhi, Ignacio said the relationship has expanded into a strategic partnership with deepening cooperation across defence, trade, and digital infrastructure.

Ambassador's Assessment of Modi's Leadership

Ignacio offered an effusive assessment of Prime Minister Modi's tenure, stating that India today is 'far different from the India of several decades ago' and is 'well on its way to Viksit Bharat.' He noted that admiration for Modi's leadership is widely shared in the Philippines.

'Prime Minister Modi, I think, is very much admired around the world and that's certainly shared by the Philippines,' Ignacio said. He pointed to a meeting between PM Modi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in August last year in Delhi as a milestone that built 'good friendship and rapport' between the two leaders, adding that both sides found 'a meeting of the minds' on global priorities including energy security, food security, connectivity, and digital public infrastructure.

Trade Ties Cross USD 3 Billion Mark

On the economic front, Ignacio highlighted that bilateral trade crossed the USD 3 billion mark in 2023 and is now approaching USD 4 billion. He described this trajectory as emblematic of the broader deepening of ties.

Beyond trade, Ignacio cited the resumption of direct flights between the two countries after more than a decade and a significant uptick in two-way tourism. The Philippines has extended visa-free access to Indian nationals for up to 14 days for tourism or short-term business, a policy he credited with boosting visitor numbers on both sides.

Strategic Partnership and Defence Cooperation

'We are now strategic partners and under this we are cultivating broad-based cooperation from defence to even military cooperation,' Ignacio said. He described the evolution of the relationship as reflecting shared priorities rather than a transactional partnership, noting alignment on rule of law and regional connectivity — themes central to both nations' foreign policy postures in the Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar's Manila Visit and Quad Engagement

Ignacio also underscored the significance of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's ongoing visit to Manila, where Jaishankar participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India 2026, the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and a series of bilateral engagements with counterparts from several nations.

Jaishankar met Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo's successor, Secretary Lazaro, on the sidelines of the Manila meetings. Ignacio noted that Jaishankar has visited the Philippines every two years — in 2022, 2024, and now 2026 — describing the regularity as enabling 'closer discussions on issues of mutual interest.'

With trade approaching USD 4 billion, direct air connectivity restored, and ministerial-level engagement now a biennial fixture, the India-Philippines relationship appears set for further consolidation in the months ahead.