SINGAPORE - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said his government will pursue "stronger cooperation" with "friends" such as India to build pillars that support the architecture of regional stability.
"Under our comprehensive archipelagic defense concept, we will develop the capability to deploy our forces in areas where we are required by constitutional duty and legal authority to protect our interests and preserve our heritage... and as we As we build our defense capabilities, we will also continue to invest in diplomacy,” Marcos said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday night.
He said the Philippines will pursue "more robust cooperation with friends like South Korea, India, collaborative efforts among some states that share specific interests built into the pillars that support the architecture of regional stability".
“As we work to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, we must also defend our interests in our maritime domain and in the global commons,” the President said, highlighting rising tensions in the South China Sea and the vast region. We will build our capabilities for Indo-Pacific region.
In April, the Philippines took delivery of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as part of a US$375 million deal signed by the two countries in 2022.BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), a joint venture company of India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), signed a contract with the Philippines in January 2022 for the supply of shore-based anti-ship missile systems.
Observers said such deals, and several other expected deals, will boost Manila-New Delhi growing diplomatic and trade ties amid China's aggressive activities in the region.
Recently, an Indian naval ship paid a goodwill visit to the Philippines and there are multilateral cooperation agreements between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a key member.
Observers are of the opinion that India-ASEAN regularly conduct maritime exercises and visits by naval ships are part of the overall understanding to gain knowledge of the maritime capabilities of each partner member country.
Addressing the three-day defense-security-focused talks that began on Thursday, Marcos underlined his commitment to ASEAN centrality and said it would remain a core element of his country's foreign policy.“At the same time, we will strengthen our alliance with the United States and strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei and all other ASEAN member states. In this spirit, we are pursuing trilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Celebes Sea.''
"Under our comprehensive archipelagic defense concept, we will develop the capability to deploy our forces in areas where we are required by constitutional duty and legal authority to protect our interests and preserve our heritage... and as we As we build our defense capabilities, we will also continue to invest in diplomacy,” Marcos said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday night.
He said the Philippines will pursue "more robust cooperation with friends like South Korea, India, collaborative efforts among some states that share specific interests built into the pillars that support the architecture of regional stability".
“As we work to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, we must also defend our interests in our maritime domain and in the global commons,” the President said, highlighting rising tensions in the South China Sea and the vast region. We will build our capabilities for Indo-Pacific region.
In April, the Philippines took delivery of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as part of a US$375 million deal signed by the two countries in 2022.BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), a joint venture company of India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), signed a contract with the Philippines in January 2022 for the supply of shore-based anti-ship missile systems.
Observers said such deals, and several other expected deals, will boost Manila-New Delhi growing diplomatic and trade ties amid China's aggressive activities in the region.
Recently, an Indian naval ship paid a goodwill visit to the Philippines and there are multilateral cooperation agreements between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a key member.
Observers are of the opinion that India-ASEAN regularly conduct maritime exercises and visits by naval ships are part of the overall understanding to gain knowledge of the maritime capabilities of each partner member country.
Addressing the three-day defense-security-focused talks that began on Thursday, Marcos underlined his commitment to ASEAN centrality and said it would remain a core element of his country's foreign policy.“At the same time, we will strengthen our alliance with the United States and strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei and all other ASEAN member states. In this spirit, we are pursuing trilateral cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Celebes Sea.''
