The Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed his profound gratitude to India for its “swift and decisive action” in rescuing Filipino crew members of a merchant ship attacked by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden this month.
The Indian Navy’s medical team rescued all the crew members of MV Confidence and provided them critical care after the merchant ship sustained an attack by a Houthi missile strike while sailing the Gulf of Aden on March 6. Three crew members, including two Filipinos, were killed. All the Filipino crew members who survived the attack have been repatriated, the Philippine News Agency reported.
Honoured to call-on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines. Conveyed the personal greetings of President @rashtrapatibhvn and PM @narendramodi.Valued his warm sentiments towards the partnership. His guidance for taking it to new areas will strengthen collaboration… pic.twitter.com/DbpwcktMeG
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 26, 2024
Marcos, extending his gratitude to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is visiting the Philippines, said: “I express my profound gratitude to the Indian government for their swift and decisive action in rescuing Filipino seafarers involved in the MV True Confidence incident.” “I look forward to further strengthening our bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of our nations,” Marcos said in a Facebook Post.
Jaishankar is visiting Manila for the second time. He first visited the Philippines in February 2022. During his current visit, he called on President Marcos Jr. at Malacanan Palace here. In a firm public assertion of India’s position on the South China Sea issue, Jaishankar on Tuesday said India firmly supported the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty as Manila and Beijing were currently involved in a raging maritime territorial dispute over the resource-rich region.
Jaishankar’s remarks came at a joint press conference with his counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila after their bilateral meeting. “I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty,” Jaishankar said, indicating perhaps for the first time New Delhi’s stand on the South China Sea issue.
(With agency inputs)
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