NEW DELHI: India has invited the Philippines to partner with its defence industry for co-development and co-production of weapons systems and platforms, even as it supplies the country with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
Amid the ongoing heightened tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which has seen Beijing use strong-arm tactics, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane appreciated the “self-reliance defence posture act” of the Philippines government for modernising its armed forces during the fifth bilateral joint defence cooperation committee meeting at Manila on Wednesday.
Senior undersecretary of the defence ministry of the Philippines, Irineo Cruz Espino, in turn, invited investments in long-term equity partnership towards promoting assured supply chains. “The Philippines acknowledged and appreciated India’s functioning and proven template of defence Industry indigenisation,” an official said.
“The two sides exchanged wide-ranging discussions on bilateral as well as multilateral issues. Reviewing the outcomes of third bilateral service-to-service interactions held on Sept 10, they expressed happiness at the overall enhancement in bilateral defence cooperation across all sectors,” he added.
Affirming the commitment to support each other to achieve the goal of self-reliance in defence production, the two sides also appreciated the operationalisation of their bilateral `white shipping information exchange’ as well as the impending opening of a defence wing at the Indian embassy in Manila.
Under the vision for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, Aramane said the Indian defence Industry is continuously enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and is exporting equipment to the world.
India earlier this year began deliveries of three anti-ship coastal batteries of the 290-km BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines under the $375 million contract inked in Jan 2022.
While welcoming the Philippines as a coordinating country for India in ASEAN’s defence ministers’ meeting-plus, Aramane also discussed ways and means to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums. “India and the Philippines have a vigorous and multifaceted relationship which has expanded into several strategic areas, including defence and security,” the official said.
Amid the ongoing heightened tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which has seen Beijing use strong-arm tactics, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane appreciated the “self-reliance defence posture act” of the Philippines government for modernising its armed forces during the fifth bilateral joint defence cooperation committee meeting at Manila on Wednesday.
Senior undersecretary of the defence ministry of the Philippines, Irineo Cruz Espino, in turn, invited investments in long-term equity partnership towards promoting assured supply chains. “The Philippines acknowledged and appreciated India’s functioning and proven template of defence Industry indigenisation,” an official said.
“The two sides exchanged wide-ranging discussions on bilateral as well as multilateral issues. Reviewing the outcomes of third bilateral service-to-service interactions held on Sept 10, they expressed happiness at the overall enhancement in bilateral defence cooperation across all sectors,” he added.
Affirming the commitment to support each other to achieve the goal of self-reliance in defence production, the two sides also appreciated the operationalisation of their bilateral `white shipping information exchange’ as well as the impending opening of a defence wing at the Indian embassy in Manila.
Under the vision for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, Aramane said the Indian defence Industry is continuously enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and is exporting equipment to the world.
India earlier this year began deliveries of three anti-ship coastal batteries of the 290-km BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines under the $375 million contract inked in Jan 2022.
While welcoming the Philippines as a coordinating country for India in ASEAN’s defence ministers’ meeting-plus, Aramane also discussed ways and means to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums. “India and the Philippines have a vigorous and multifaceted relationship which has expanded into several strategic areas, including defence and security,” the official said.
