In an apparent break from a weeks-long torrent of anti-American rhetoric, Duterte suggested defence alliances would continue and his foreign policy was to “realign”, but reiterated joint exercises with U.S. troops, a decades-old tradition, would be stopped.
Part of the re-alignment has been overtures towards China and Russia, which Duterte has spoken highly of and plans to visit in the weeks ahead, starting with China from October 18-21.
He told U.S. President Barack Obama last week to “go to hell” and alluded to severing ties with Washington. He also said the Philippines “would not beg” for U.S. aid and dared the U.S. spy agency to oust him.
The maverick former Davao City mayor has expressed anger over U.S. colonial rule and what he called “reprimands” from Washington about his bloody war on drugs.
Duterte’s pronouncements on the status of ties with the United States have created considerable confusion, with U.S. officials adamant that relations are unchanged and Philippine defence officials saying security programmes are to be reviewed to determine their relevance.
The Philippines and the United States currently hold 28 exercises together each year, three of which are major programmes and the rest minor, according to the Philippine defence ministry.