By: Karen Lema
January 5,2017
"It's a strategic pivot U.S-Philippine relation have deteriorated."
Russia aims to become close friends with the Philippines by offering the country with sophisticated weapon such as aircraft and submarines. this leads to an angry outburst by the former traditional US ally as President Rodrigo Duterte lose the trust anad relations that has been ongoing since the past presidents who came before him. He intend to diversify the country's foreign partners, not knowing that it may cost the country's ties with the US. He says, "It's not a choice between these partners and those one. Diversification means preserving and keeping old traditional partners and getting new one." According to the US Senator, e said that he would block the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to the rising death toll in a drug war launched by Duterte himself. This is where Russia comes in where Duterte sends his foreign and defence ministers to discuss the arms deal. The Russia navy will come to visit the Philippines in less than a month to transport the requested supplies. Durterte says that its too early to talk about military cooperation and even refers to the US such that, "Old allies should not worry."
President Duterte's intent on diversifying the country's foreign relations may break the trust of its loyal allies, such as the US. His decision to pursue relations with Russia through the arms deal after the US breaks off thier military deal simply shows disloyalty. He should be honored to have the US as an ally let alone have thier military participate and contribute so much to the country, but instead he chooses to run to someone else. The US would feel somewhat backstabbed by this selfish decision as Duterte is only going for the weapons. His militaristic mentality and the fact that he wants the country to have a better military power may break future relations with not only the United States but also other foreign countries.
For more info at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russia-offers-philippines-weapons-and-friendship_us_586e4122e4b0c8575a774ee1
