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 a deal to sell 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

The Philippine president has not hesitated to use impolite language when referring to US officials. He called Barack Obama a "son of a bitch" and referred to the US ambassador to Manila as a "gay man." On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said that such exaggerated language does not correspond to the actual relationship between the two countries. He added that, despite Duterte's rhetoric, 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 his intention to reorient the country's foreign policy, threatening to halt the defense agreement with the US and "break up" with the United States.

However, senior Philippine government representatives and the President himself later rejected such intentions. Nevertheless, it seems Duterte wants to implement a multi-vector foreign policy, seeking to establish alliances with China (which he recently visited), as well as with Russia, where he plans to meet with President Putin. Vladimir Svedentsov, a political analyst at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, commented: "If these are not just empty words, then we can speak of a significant shift in foreign policy towards a more balanced relationship, focusing not only on the US but also on Russia and China." In the case of canceling the rifle deal, Duterte also did not refrain from using profanity directed at the US.

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

Russian assistance in strengthening the Philippines' defense capabilities could become a key 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 Philippines in the past, likely because for many years the Philippines focused on military cooperation with the United States. Time will tell whether President Duterte's statement about his intention to purchase Russian weapons is mere rhetoric or a carefully considered plan of action.

According to Sputnik