Philippines, India to conduct first joint naval patrol

The Philippines aims to expand maritime cooperation with India, according to an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq made this statement during a briefing for President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s state visit to India next week, which will see the conduct of their first-ever joint naval patrol in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos will be in New Delhi and Bangalore from August 4 to 8, where he will hold official meetings and engage with the business community.

The Indian Navy's warships docked in Manila this week, marking their first participation in a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) with the Philippine Navy.

This initiative underscores the growing importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, as India joins a list of countries including the United States, Australia, Japan, France, Canada, and New Zealand that have conducted joint maritime patrols with the Philippines.