The Philippines has significantly bolstered its defense capabilities and established a "credible deterrence" in the South China Sea through its BrahMos missile deal with India. This agreement is considered an "important high point" in defense cooperation, with the Philippines recognizing India's growing strength in indigenous defense manufacturing. The BrahMos missile system provides crucial anti-access and area denial capabilities, enhancing the country's security posture and deterring potential aggressors, all while the Philippines maintains its commitment to a peaceful foreign policy and safeguarding its national security.

The Philippines has significantly bolstered its defense capabilities and established a "credible deterrence" in the South China Sea through its BrahMos missile deal with India. This agreement is considered an "important high point" in defense cooperation, with the Philippines recognizing India's growing strength in indigenous defense manufacturing. The BrahMos missile system provides crucial anti-access and area denial capabilities, enhancing the country's security posture and deterring potential aggressors, all while the Philippines maintains its commitment to a peaceful foreign policy and safeguarding its national security.

The Philippines has significantly bolstered its defense capabilities and established a "credible deterrence" in the South China Sea through its BrahMos missile deal with India. This agreement is considered an "important high point" in defense cooperation, with the Philippines recognizing India's growing strength in indigenous defense manufacturing. The BrahMos missile system provides crucial anti-access and area denial capabilities, enhancing the country's security posture and deterring potential aggressors, all while the Philippines maintains its commitment to a peaceful foreign policy and safeguarding its national security.

Philippines Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio explained how the BrahMos deal between India and Manila has strengthened his country's defence capabilities and offered his country a "credible deterrence" in the South China Sea as it seeks to counter the growing presence of China in the region.

He highlighted the importance of the deal, saying it was an "important high point" in the defence cooperation between the two countries. Ignacio further said he is impressed by the progress India has made in its indigenous defence industry.

Speaking on the Philippines-India defence relationship, he said, "The BrahMos is a very good opening, and it's an important high point."

"The expansion of our defence relationship with India started more than a decade ago when we signed the defence cooperation agreement... With India showing how its indigenous defence industry has grown in capabilities, the range of products it offers, and the reliable goods that it can deliver, India has become one of the top potential providers for the Philippines," he said.

According to him, India certainly comes to their minds when the Philippines considers the acquisition of defence equipment.

The official said the BrahMos missile system provides the Philippines with a credible deterrent, noting that its speed and long range significantly strengthen the country's defence posture.

"From a purely operational perspective, in military terms perhaps, it bestows on the Philippines some measure of anti-access and area denial. And that kind of capability now also raises, for any potential aggressor, the costs of such actions. So it sort of reconfigures the operational calculus when it comes to that kind of conflict," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

The envoy said the Philippines has consistently pursued a peaceful foreign policy and seeks to remain a friend to all nations. However, he noted that every country has a responsibility to safeguard its own security, adding that the BrahMos missile system provides the Philippines with the necessary defensive capability.

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