Philippines Calls BrahMos an Important Part of Defence Partnership With India

The BrahMos missile programme is playing an important role in the expanding defence relationship between India and the Philippines, Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro said on September 15, 2026. Her comments came as the two countries continue to broaden their strategic engagement across defence and other areas of mutual interest.

Speaking in an interview with ANI, Lazaro identified BrahMos as an important part of the defence relationship between the Philippines and India. At the same time, she did not provide details about any possible new missile purchases or future defence acquisitions, explaining that such decisions come under the Philippines’ Department of National Defense.

The BrahMos programme has already created a major defence-industrial link between the two countries. The Philippines signed an agreement with India in 2022 for a shore-based anti-ship missile system, making Manila the first international customer for the BrahMos weapon system. The deal was valued at about $375 million.

India subsequently began deliveries of the system to the Philippines in April 2024. The transfer represented a significant development for India’s defence export efforts and gave the two countries a new area of military cooperation.

Since then, BrahMos has remained closely associated with the developing security relationship between New Delhi and Manila. The two countries have also expanded their wider defence engagement through military contacts and maritime cooperation.

The latest remarks from the Philippine Foreign Secretary come amid broader efforts to deepen India-Philippines relations. Recent high-level discussions between the two countries have covered defence as well as space, technology, trade and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

For India, the Philippines represents an important overseas market for its indigenous defence products, while for Manila, the BrahMos acquisition has added an Indian-origin missile capability to its defence inventory. The programme has therefore become one of the most visible examples of the expanding defence partnership between the two countries.

While Lazaro’s comments did not confirm any additional BrahMos order, they underline the continuing significance of the missile programme in India-Philippines defence relations. Future procurement decisions will remain with the Philippine defence authorities.