Russia is ready to supply the Philippines with advanced weapons
Russia is ready to supply the Philippines with advanced weaponry, including submarines and aircraft, as stated by the Russian Ambassador in Manilla, Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev, Reuters reported.
Speaking during the visit of two Russian naval vessels to Manila, Khovaev stated that Russia hopes to become a “close friend” to the Philippines, a traditional U.S. ally.
"It's not a choice between these partners and those ones. Diversification means preserving and keeping old traditional partners and getting new ones. So Russia is ready to become a new reliable partner and a close friend of the Philippines," he said.
"We are ready to supply small arms and light weapons, some airplanes, helicopters, submarines and many, many other weapons. Sophisticated weapons. Not the second-hand ones,” Khovaev added.
In September, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he hopes to open alliances with Russia and China.
"I am ready to not really break ties [with the US] but we will open alliances with China and [Russia]... Medvedev [the Russian Prime Minister], he is awaiting there for my visit," Duterte said at the time.
Speaking on Thursday, Duterte said, "We welcome our Russian friends. You can moor here at any time, for anything, to resupply, or as our ally to protect us.”
The Phillipine President recently threatened to terminate a military cooperation agreement with Washington, under which U.S. troops may stay in the Philippines in order to carry out joint exercises.