India begins delivery of Brahmos hypersonic cruise missile to Philippines As the two countries strengthen military and strategic ties, Amid rising tensions with China over the South China Sea
Philippines signs deal to buy Brahmos missiles from India in 2022 for $375 million
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, said that on Friday “We are now exporting Brahmos missiles. The first batch of missiles will arrive in the Philippines today.”
India sends ‘supersonic missile’ to Philippines amid disputes with China
India and the Philippines have increased military cooperation amid concerns about China’s growing influence on their borders.
The Philippines and China have clashed frequently in the South China Sea over the past year. Including collision of ships from two countries. India has also been at odds with China over the Himalayan border for the past four years.
Analysts believe that India also wants to be part of the plan to push China away from expanding its influence in the South China Sea.
Map of country claims in the South China Sea.
Sriram Chaulia, an analyst at the Jindal School of International Affairs in New Delhi, said: “Sending the Brahmos missile to the Philippines may not be a game changer. Rather, he supports the idea that India is part of an alliance of nations that includes the United States. which seeks to strengthen and improve the security of smaller countries such as the Philippines, known as the network strategy.”
The BrahMos missile was built under a joint project between India and Russia. It is a coast-mounted anti-ship missile with a radius of 290 km.
Under the agreement made India will supply three types of missile systems to the Philippines, according to media reports in New Delhi. Philippine authorities said that this missile will be used by the Philippine Marine Corps.
India’s Brahmos missile
Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst from La Salle University in Manila told VOA that “This missile significantly improves the self-defense level of the Philippines. amid limited military resources compared to China. “ At a time when China is expanding its power and continuously violating international law.
Analysts also believe that India’s growing cooperation with the Philippines is a sign that India is stepping out of the Indian Ocean to play a role in stabilizing the overall Indo-Pacific region.
Besides the Philippines, India is also strengthening military cooperation with Vietnam, which has a maritime border dispute with China.
This delivery of hypersonic missiles to the Philippines is the first missile export from India, which has been a major arms importer from the United States and Russia over the past decades.
- Source: VOA
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