(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) in Lima, Peru where both leaders talked about areas of cooperation and forging stronger ties between the two countries.
President Putin also formally invited the Philippine leader to visit Russia next year in the hopes of forging stronger trade relations with each other.
Duterte and Putin exchanged views of how they admired each other.
Putin congratulated Duterte for achieving “a lot” in a short period of time. He said he was looking forward to having an “all around partnership between our countries and with respect to promoting greater trust and confidence between us.”
During their 45-minute bilateral meeting at the Swissôtel in Lima, Peru, Duterte again expressed his admiration for the Russian president
He also relayed to him several historical issues and personal views he had against the United States, explaining why he deemed it necessary for the Philippines to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Duterte, referring to the long years of Philippine-American relationship said, “It was good until it lasted.”
“And of late, I see a lot of these western nations bullying small nations. And not only that, they are into so much hypocrisy,” Duterte said.
He told Putin that the Cold War had stood between their two countries as the Philippines, a former US colony, was historically identified with the West.
But he said that has changed now that he is president.
Since taking office in June, Duterte has upended the Philippines’ historical military alliance with the United States, repeatedly saying he was shifting toward China and Russia as he embarks on an independent foreign policy.
The President went on explaining that the US had incited so many wars in different parts of the world and had forced the Philippines to contribute in these military warfare.
“And they (the US) seem to start a war but are afraid to go to war. That is what is wrong with America and the others. They’ve been waging wars in so many places — in Vietnam, in Afghanistan and in Iraq for one single reason that there was a weapon of mass destruction, and there was none,” Duterte told Putin.
Duterte also said the United States “forced” the Philippines to contribute soldiers in its wars in Vietnam and Iraq.
When Manila pulled out non-combat troops that were part of the US-led coalition against Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2004 following threats to behead a kidnapped Filipino worker there, Washington “made it hard for us,” Duterte told Putin in a video shot by the Philippine presidential palace broadcast team.
“These are the things I see which is not a good idea,” Duterte said in English.
He also expressed admiration for Europe.
“We’ve been longing to be part also of — despite the distance — we have been longing to be part of Europe, especially in commerce and trade around the world.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said President Duterte had conveyed quite clearly to Russian President Putin of the importance of successfully moving forward in the relationship between the Philippines and Russia.
“It is very important for everybody to make sure that in order for them to successfully move forward, in forging a brighter future for the country, they must learn from the mistakes in the past… and I think the President conveyed this message quite clear to the President of Russia, President Putin,” Secretary Yasay said in a statement.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the Russian Federation.
Duterte, who has cultivated an image as a no-nonsense leader, said last month that “my favorite hero is Putin.”
He has also said that he and Putin seem to share a passion for guns and women.
Favorite targets for his abusive verbal tirades are US President Barack Obama, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the European Union.
All three have expressed concern over Duterte’s iron-fisted policy against drugs, which they said violated human rights and due process.
Duterte missed the gala dinner at the APEC summit Saturday evening, sending a message to the hosts that he was sick.
Staying put in his hotel may have avoided a potentially awkward encounter with Obama, who cancelled a meeting with him at another summit in September after Duterte said several harsh words against the US President for criticizing his war against illegal drugs.
(with a report from Agence France Presse)
