Russian Warships Dock in Philippines, Look Forward to Joint Drills
Local Editor
The Philippines Navy welcomed two Russian warships that docked in the Southeast Asian country coinciding with Manila's expressed readiness to shift from relying on the US as its sole and dominant partner in the Western Pacific.
The Anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs, along with the sea tanker Boris Butoma, anchored at Manila's South Harbor on Tuesday for a week long goodwill visit.
The Russian marines are expected to discuss and share tactics to help combat terrorism and piracy in the region. Moscow is also eager to conduct joint military exercises with its Philippines counterparts in the future.
"We will show you what we can do, and we will see what you can do, and show us," Russian Navy Pacific Fleet Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, told reporters through an interpreter at a press conference on Tuesday.
"In the future maybe we can have military exercises so we can help you and share with you our knowledge to deal or solve the problem with piracy and terrorism."
"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."
Philippine navy officials welcomed the Russian vessels as relationships between the Philippines and its long-term ally, the United States, have somewhat deteriorated in recent months.
"There will be courtesy calls, tour of historical places within Manila and nearby Cavite province, capability demonstration, goodwill games, wreath laying, shipboard tour and send-off ceremony among others," Capt. Lued Lincuna, a spokesman for the Philippines Navy, said.
Lincuna also noted that this is the third time a contingent of the Russian Navy has visited the Philippines. But it is the first visit by Russian navy ships since Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office last June. Russian ships docked in the Philippines in May 2016 and in January 2012.
The Russian Navy's visit comes a month after the Philippines Defense Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, visited Russia to explore prospects for military-technical cooperation.
During the Philippines delegation visit to Russia in November, both countries expressed a willingness to finalize a Philippines-Russia Agreement on Defense Cooperation, after Manila indicated a strong shift in its foreign policy away from the US's sphere of influence.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
