In a historic milestone, the navies of India and the Philippines have commenced their first-ever joint naval sail and exercises in the disputed South China Sea. The two-day operation began on Sunday, August 3, coinciding with the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India, signaling deepening strategic cooperation between the two democracies.
Background & Deployment
Three Indian Navy warships – INS Delhi (guided-missile destroyer), INS Shakti (fleet tanker), and INS Kiltan (anti-submarine warfare corvette) – docked in Manila late last week ahead of the patrol. A fourth vessel, INS Sandhayak (surveillance ship), joined on August 1.
The patrol area lies within the heavily contested waters of the South China Sea, including zones the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea. China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire sea, despite a 2016 ruling declaring those claims legally baseless.
Strategic Intent & Messaging
Dubbed a “maritime cooperative activity,” the joint sail reflects both defence diplomacy and operational interoperability. Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado confirmed the patrol “started yesterday afternoon, then it’s ongoing up to this moment… the activity at the moment is replenishment at sea,” showcasing logistical coordination at sea.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. hailed the drill as “a clear demonstration of our mutual resolve to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold the law of the sea.” He added that there were no incident reports, though Chinese ships shadowed the activity from a distance, a familiar pattern during such operations.
Regional Context: Alliances & Diplomacy
The Philippines has engaged in similar joint patrols with partners including the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and Canada. India’s participation now broadens that coalition, aligning both countries with shared values and security concerns about China’s maritime assertiveness.
This initiative dovetails with India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, where it seeks to emerge as a blue-water navy capable of sustained operations far from its shores. The deployment underscores India’s readiness to act beyond bilateral weapon sales—such as the 2022 BrahMos missile system export to Manila—into real-time strategic cooperation.
Military-Diplomatic Symbolism
The timing was deliberate: the patrol began one day before President Marcos Jr.’s visit to New Delhi, designed to set a positive tone for high-level discussions with Indian leadership. At a reception aboard INS Shakti, India’s ambassador to the Philippines described the naval visit as “a powerful testament to the enduring friendship and growing maritime cooperation” between the two nations.
Within the broader Quad framework (comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia), this engagement signals India’s intent to diversify its strategic partnerships beyond the four-nation grouping into ASEAN and regional allies directly.
Takeaway: Strategic Impact & Implications
- Diplomatic Signaling: Together, India and the Philippines project a united front supporting freedom of navigation, rules-based maritime order, and regional stability.
- Operational Synergy: Conducting replenishment at sea and coordinated maneuvers boosts naval interoperability, preparing both navies for deeper cooperation in future missions.
- Pressure on China: Though non-confrontational, the patrol challenges China’s expansive claims by asserting a collective presence endorsed by international law.
- Expansion of Security Networks: India’s active role in Southeast Asia advances its maritime diplomacy beyond existing QUAD alliances, echoing Philippines’ interest in enlarging cooperative groups like the so-called “Squad” to include nations such as India and South Korea.
What the Philippines Gains
- Reinforced defense ties beyond traditional partners, now including a rising strategic actor in the region.
- Assurance of support in maintaining sovereignty over its claimed maritime zones.
- Enhanced naval capacity through joint operational training and shared maritime assets.
What India Gains
- A symbolic and practical extension of its blue-water navy capabilities.
- A more diversified regional presence and strategic footprint across the Indo-Pacific.
- Reinforced credibility as a responsible security partner committed to international law and maritime norms.
The India–Philippines joint naval patrol in the South China Sea marks a significant evolution in both nations’ strategic calculus. It transcends weapon sales and diplomatic speeches by translating partnership into action on a vital geopolitical theater. As both countries continue to strengthen interoperability, their cooperation may serve as a template for broader regional collaboration and a confidence-building measure against coercive maritime practices.
In effect, this patrol is not just a voyage—it’s a statement: that maritime security in the Indo-Pacific demands collective effort, shared resolve, and a commitment to a rules-based order.
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