The Russian Navy said January 3 it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot from the United States. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Two Russian Navy ships arrived in Manila on Tuesday (January 3) for a five-day goodwill visit in the first ever official naval contact between Russia and the Philippines, as Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte moved to strengthen ties with Moscow.
A possible weapons deal is also seen in the offing, as well as joint military exercises between the Philippines and Russia, considered the main rival of the Philippines’ once closest ally, the United States.
Russia’s Pacific Fleet Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, said a wide range of equipment was brought on the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and the sea tanker Boris Butomato to demonstrate to the Philippine military during the five-day visit.
The Russian Navy also said that it was planning to hold naval exercises with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila.
Rear Admiral Mikhailov said the joint military exercises would focus on maritime piracy and terrorism, which he described as the region’s two top security concerns.
“We’re very sure that in the future we’ll get such exercises with you, maybe just the manoeuvreing or maybe use some combat systems and so on,” Mikhailov told reporters beside the docked Russian destroyer Admiral Tributs.
Mikhailov also raised the prospect of joint exercises with China and Malaysia in the South China Sea, where competing territorial claims have been a major source of tension and potential conflict for decades.
“We really hope that in a few years, the military exercises for example in your region, in the South China Sea, will (involve) for example, not only Russia-Philippines, but Russia, Philippines, China and maybe Malaysia together.”
The Russian Navy said January 3 it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot from the United States. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
The visit was only the third ever by Russian military vessels to the Philippines, according to the Filipino Navy’s Commodore Francisco Cabudao, who led the welcoming ceremony for the Russian ships.
Russian ships also made trips to the Philippines in January 2012 and May 2016.
This was however the first visit of Russian ships during the administration of President Duterte.
This week’s visit will include meetings between naval officials, as well as the opening of the ships to the public and Russian tours of historical places in Manila.
“You can choose … to cooperate with United State of America or to cooperate with Russia, but from our side we can help you in every way that you need,” Mikhailov told reporters through an interpreter after a welcoming ceremony.
The Department of Defense has earlier said that it is looking at the acquisition of drones and sniper rifles from Russia.
President Duterte earlier said he does not need to buy weapons from the United States after the latter said it was reconsidering a contract with the Philippines for the provision of 26,000 rifles for the Philippine National Police (PNP) because of alleged concerns on the Philippines’ intensified war against crime and drugs.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had already met with Alexander Fomin, director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation, in Moscow to explore possible military cooperation with Russia last December.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Pefecto Yasay Jr. had also met with his Russian counterpart last year to discuss the strengthening of the relationship between the Philippines and Russia.
The two Philippine officials’ visit to Moscow were in prepartion for President Duterte slated visit Russia in March or April this year. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited President Duterte to come to Moscow at the sidelines of the APEC Leaders’ Summit last year in Peru.
The Philippines, a former American colony, had for decades been one of the United States’ most important and loyal allies in Asia. The two are bound by a mutual defence pact.
But Duterte is now opening up to the possibility of forging new alliances with China and Russia.
The President has also made repeated threats to downgrade or even end military and diplomatic ties with Washington, and has put on hold dozens of war games held annually with the United States, following US President Barack Obama’s criticism of President Duterte’s war on drugs.
Mr. Duterte said Mr. Obama’s remark showed his lack of respect on a sovereign state, and announced that he would pursue an independent foreign policy that would not be dictated upon by the US.
(with reports from Agence France Presse and Associated Press)