Pentagon says Philippines should cooperate with US over Russia
Pentagon Deputy Director for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Shriver said that the Philippines' plan to buy Russian military equipment could damage cooperation with the United States, despite the fact that Washington is a better partner.
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| Armed Forces of the Philippines |
Mr. Randall Shriver's statement was quoted by the Philippine news portal Rappler.
Commenting on the Philippines' plan to buy Russian equipment, Shriver told reporters in Manila, Philippines, that "this needs to be thought through carefully."
"Assuming they will continue to buy Russian (military) equipment, I don't think that will support (our) cooperation. Ultimately, I think we can be a better partner than Russia," said Mr. Randall Shriver.
Earlier, at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Philippine Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano said Manila would not refuse to buy weapons from Russia, despite potential sanctions from the United States.