India's Navy is deepening its defence partnership with the Philippine Navy during a goodwill visit of Indian Navy warships to Manila. Nattuva Dheeraj, Captain INS Sandhayak, an Indian survey ship, said the visit was about bettering the relationship that was already in place. Officials reaffirmed the relationship between the Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy, built on decades of defence cooperation and shared maritime interests. The visit was also timely, as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.