New Delhi is not expected to take up Manila’s invitation to join the informal Squad alliance, according to analysts – a move that would add to pressure on Beijing in the South China Sea. But India’s efforts to expand engagement in the region are seen as “significant”.
The Philippines wants both India and South Korea to join its Squad security partnership with the United States, Australia and Japan, which plans to conduct more maritime exercises and provide greater security assistance to the Philippines.
It comes as tensions have been mounting between Manila and Beijing over their rival claims to the South China Sea, with frequent run-ins between the two sides in the strategic, resource-rich waters.
Beijing and New Delhi – both facing new tariffs from Washington – have meanwhile made substantial progress in recent months to restore some normalcy in their relations. That has seen high-level meetings held, an agreement to resume direct flights between the neighbouring countries, and a potential relaxation of the trade and investment curbs India imposed on China after their border stand-off started in 2020.
India has remained tight-lipped on the Squad proposal since it was revealed by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr last month, when he described China as a “common enemy” of both the Philippines and India.
“So, it’s important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence,” Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue, a security forum in New Delhi.
