President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. landed at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi late Friday night, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, where he will join global figures to represent the Philippines and advocate for regional priorities as the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The President, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and members of the Cabinet, arrived at approximately 11:45 p.m. local time. The summit, taking place from September 12 to 13, 2026, features participation from full member nations alongside invited non-member “Outreach Countries” like the Philippines.
During the summit’s Open Session on September 13, President Marcos is scheduled to outline ASEAN’s key initiatives and address economic and development challenges facing emerging markets.
In his departure statement, President Marcos detailed the broad diplomatic goals of the Philippine delegation.
“We will call for fairer global governance, stronger disaster preparedness, and the responsible use of new technologies, climate action, and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law,” the President said.
He added that he intends to share insights from ASEAN’s experience in maintaining regional strategic autonomy through open dialogue.
Beyond the summit, President Marcos is slated to hold a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to evaluate the progress of their nations’ expanding alliance, following the formal elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership a year prior.
“Prime Minister Modi and I will review the progress in the implementation of the Five-Year Plan of Action for 2025 to 2029 that underpins our Strategic Partnership,” President Marcos said.
Discussions between the two leaders will cover defense, maritime security, trade, digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and direct flight connections, including negotiations toward a Preferential Trade Agreement.
Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio noted that bilateral trade is nearing $4 billion, supported by expanded military service talks and heightened commercial activity in agriculture and financial technology since the August 2025 State Visit. Ignacio highlighted that these efforts have “revitalized” and “energized” relations between both nations.
“We hope that this will continue in the years to come,” Ignacio added.
President Marcos is also scheduled to meet with Indian business leaders to pitch investment opportunities in key domestic sectors, including transportation, digitalization, logistics and infrastructure development.