New Delhi: India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday as the two countries elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership, with a greater thrust on increasing interaction among the armed forces. The announcement of the strategic partnership was made after talks between Modi and visiting Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr in New Delhi, and a day after the navies of the two countries conducted joint exercises off the Philippines coast. “India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny. From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past, it is a promise to the future,” Modi said with Marcos Jr by his side.

The two countries signed nine pacts, including on declaration and implementation of strategic partnership, terms of reference for talks among the armies, air forces and navies of the two countries and for cooperation on peaceful use of outer space.

The Prime Minister said the Philippines is an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. “We are committed to peace, security, prosperity and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. We support freedom of navigation in accordance with international laws,” Modi said.

“It is a matter of pleasure that today we have decided to elevate our relations to the status of a strategic partnership. A comprehensive action plan has also been formulated to translate the potential of this partnership into results,” he said. India and the Philippines are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations and the two leaders released a postage stamp to commemorate the occasion. Modi also thanked the Philippine government for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and for standing with India in the fight against terrorism.