President Duterte: "In Russia I will get everything I need"

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is again angry with the United States after the US State Department canceled the sale of 26,000 assault rifles planned for the Philippine National Police.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

The Philippine president has not shied away from using vulgar language when referring to US officials. He has called Barack Obama a "son of a bitch" and the US ambassador to Manila a "gay". On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said that such hyperbole does not correspond to the real relationship between the two countries. He added that, despite Mr. Duterte's words, the US is focused on a good relationship with the Philippines. But is the Philippines, or more precisely its president, also focused on a good relationship with the US? Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly stated that he intends to reorient the country's foreign policy, threatening to terminate the defense agreement with the US and "break up" with the United States.

However, later high-ranking representatives of the Philippine government and the President himself denied such intentions. However, it seems that Mr. Duterte wants to implement a multi-vector foreign policy, wanting to establish an alliance with China (he recently visited this country), as well as with Russia, where he plans to meet with President Putin. "If these are not just empty words, then we can talk about a significant change in foreign policy towards a more balanced relationship, focusing not only on the United States, but also on Russia and China," said political analyst Vladimir Svedentsov of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies. In the case of the cancellation of the rifle deal, Mr. Duterte did not limit himself to swearing at the United States.

"Both Russia and China have expressed their willingness to sell weapons to the Philippines," he added. "I remember Russian diplomats told me: 'Come to Russia, we have everything you need.'" Duterte's foreign policy balance According to Associate Professor Pyotr Tsvetov of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the support

Russia's assistance in strengthening the Philippines' defense capabilities could become an important area of ​​cooperation between the two countries. Russian arms manufacturers have repeatedly shown Philippine representatives fighter jets, helicopters, and Igla air defense missile systems. However, there has been no positive response from the Philippine side, probably because for many years the Philippines focused on military cooperation with the United States. Time will tell whether Duterte's statements about his intention to purchase Russian weapons are empty words or a carefully considered program of action.

According to Sputnik