MANILA: October marks the 25th anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service, which began on Oct 7, 2001, when he became chief minister of Gujarat, and culminated in his elevation as prime minister of India on May 13, 2014.
For India, this period represents stability in national politics, coupled with continuity in operationalizing the foundations Modi laid during his first year in office.
This year not only commemorates Modi’s 25 years of public service but also marks his tenure as India’s longest-serving elected prime minister. On June 10, 2026, he reached 4,399 consecutive days in office.
For a major economic and military power with vast diplomatic capital and sophisticated bureaucratic processes, maintaining consistency and predictability in national decision-making matters. This is crucial not only to the trajectory of India’s external engagements but also to its partners’ understanding of the country at a time of significant geopolitical uncertainty.
It is in this context that Modi’s leadership is seen as contributing to security in the Indo-Pacific, as India seeks to maximize its role as a security provider and partner to regional states.
In recognition of this milestone, the past few days have seen numerous congratulatory messages from heads of state around the world. Among them was Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a social media post, Marcos said: “From Gujarat to leading the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Modi’s journey has been marked by a strong emphasis on good governance, innovation, technology, infrastructure, and development, contributing to India’s transformation and its growing role on the global stage.”
He added, “From our Strategic Partnership in 2025 to the Philippines joining the CDRI last month, our ties continue to grow from strength to strength.”
These comments are significant and come at a crucial time for the strategic partnership, as both the Philippines and India seek to enhance the utility of their ties in the Indo-Pacific.
Since 2014, New Delhi has injected new momentum into its Southeast Asia strategy, known as the Act East Policy. With the clear intent of preserving the region’s rules-based order, the Modi government has deepened and broadened the scope of its defense cooperation with South-East Asian partners.
For the Philippines, the doors to strategic cooperation opened with the purchase of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in 2022. In the years since, the recently elevated partnership has become increasingly institutionalised through greater military-to-military coordination, naval exercises and ship visits, Track 1 dialogues, and agreements between critical agencies in both countries, including their coast guards.
According to Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippines-India strategic partnership has a significant opportunity to further strengthen the relationship, given the notable developments that have unfolded in recent years.
Beyond the military and security domain, however, the bilateral relationship has taken a more comprehensive turn. It now encompasses the resumption of direct flights, the operationalization of India-led quick-impact projects across the Philippine archipelago, and more robust exchanges in industries such as health care, tourism, education and infrastructure.
As Manila seeks to deepen its multifaceted ties with New Delhi, continuity and regularized coordination will be key. National political stability is important to sustaining both.
In this regard, the Modi government can provide assurance that the investments both sides have made in the partnership will be cultivated according to a long-term vision.
This becomes even more notable as Modi is set to visit Manila next month for the Asean Summit, where he is expected to hold comprehensive talks with Marcos.
Such stability is vital to Manila’s foreign policy at a time when the regional strategic architecture is in constant flux and remains susceptible to change.
Thus, as the Modi government continues to institutionalize its position in Indian politics, the Philippines-India strategic partnership is likely to sustain its positive trajectory in the years ahead. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Don McLain Gill is a geopolitical analyst, author and lecturer at the Department of International Studies at De La Salle University. He is an Indo-Pacific research fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and an advisory board member of the WPS Foundation.
