Post BrahMos Deal, Philippines-India ‘Enter New Partnership Based On Mutual Security & Development’

NEW DELHI: Dr. Pooja Bhatt, a specialist on Asian security issues with a special focus on maritime issues and Author of the “Nine Dash Line: Deciphering the South China Sea Conundrum” in conversation with StratNews Global Associate Editor Amitabh P. Revi.

Dr Bhatt discusses External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar first official visit to the Philippines on the heels of the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in Melbourne, the January 28 India-Philippines signing of a $374.96 million BrahMos supersonic missile deal, Delhi’s defence export target of $5 billion(Rs 35,000 crore)by 2025, China’s aggressive claims in the region and whether that is catalysing security pushback, how India’s ‘Act East’ policy sit with U.S. Indo-Pacific and ASEAN strategies and the reasons for Manila’s delay in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) that India pulled out of.