Filipino, Indian Experts Explore Potential Areas of Cooperation in Track 2 Maritime Dialogue

Filipino academics and NMF delegates discuss prospects for maritime security cooperation between the Philippines and India. Photo courtesy of Stratbase ADRi.

MANILA 18 September 2023 – Filipino and Indian maritime experts exchanged views on potential areas of cooperation in the Track 2 component of the Inaugural Philippines-India Maritime Dialogue, held in Manila last September 12.

The forum, organized by Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute, focused on maritime security cooperation and economic opportunities in the maritime industry that, from the private sector’s point of view, the two countries could pursue in the future.

The panels of experts consisted of Filipino academics and political analysts, and experts from India’s National Maritime Foundation (NMF), led by Commodore Debesh Lahiri. NMF is an Indian think tank that focuses on various maritime issues.

Filipino and Indian Session 2 panelists with former Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing, Jr, and Stratbase and DFA officials.

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, Assistant Secretary Patrick Chuasoto said that the Philippines “sees India as kindred, a natural partner in our efforts to strengthen the rules-based international order under persistent threats to undermine it.” He also took the opportunity to thank India for its recent open expression of support for the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Maria Elena Cristina Maningat, representing Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela Ponce, thanked Stratbase ADRi for spearheading the Track 2 Maritime Dialogue, the Philippines’ first private sector-led maritime dialogue with another country.

The Philippines has existing maritime-oriented bilateral mechanisms with Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, United Kingdom, and the United States, under the auspices of DFA-MOAO.

NMF delegates with senior Philippine Navy officers.

The NMF delegates also met, during their three-day visit, with the leaderships of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to discuss possible opportunities for closer collaboration.

Stratbase ADRi and NMF hope to provide inputs to the agenda of the Track 1 Maritime Dialogue that the Philippine and Indian government’s plan to convene within the next few months.

The Track 2 Maritime Dialogue comes on the heels of the highly successful fifth meeting of the Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation last June, in New Delhi, where maritime cooperation was identified by the two sides as one of the priority areas. END

NMF delegates with PCG Commandant VAdm Artemio Abu and senior Philippine Coast Guard officers.