Russia and
the Philippines are likely to sign an agreement in spring that would
strengthen military cooperation between Moscow and Manila, the
Philippine defense chief said on Monday. Philippine Defense Secretary
Delfin Lorenzana told reporters that Manila is finalizing the
memorandum of agreement that is expected to be signed in April or May
this year when President Rodrigo Duterte visits Russia.
"If
we finish the nitty-gritty (of the agreement then it will be
signed)," he said, adding the agreements would allow troops
of both countries to conduct military drills, exchange personnel,
observe military activities. Lorenzana said Moscow and Manila started
hammering out the agreement in 2014 but was not finished. "It
didn't progress so we are going to finish it," Lorenzana
said, adding the agreement "is almost finish."
He said that
when the agreement is signed then military personnel from both
countries can observe military exercises, or send students to our
schools and vice versa to gain military experience. "It's an
exchange of visits," he said.
Lorenzana
clarified that the agreement would just be a "military-to-military
cooperation."
"It's
not similar to the U.S. which is a treaty (like) the Mutual Defense
Treaty which mandates them to help is in case we're attacked. We
won't have that with Russia," Lorenzana said.
Meanwhile,
Lorenzana said that a group of Russian military officers are due to
visit the Philippines this month to discuss the type of weapons that
the Philippine military plans to acquire from Russia. Last week,
Russian anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs and a large sea
tanker Boris Butoma have docked in Manila for a goodwill visit.
Duterte even spent almost an hour on board the Russian anti-submarine
destroyers Admiral Tributs. "Hope you could come back more
often. Long live!," Duterte said after the visit. The visit
of the two Russian navy ships is the first during the administration
of President Duterte who is forging a strong diplomatic alliance with
Russia.
Russian
Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev told a news conference
last week that Russia is "ready to supply small arms and
light weapons, some airplanes, helicopters, submarines and many other
weapons. Sophisticated weapons. Not the second-hand ones."
"Russia
has a lot to offer but everything will be done in full compliance
with international law," he said in a news conference aboard
the Russian anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs.
Source:
Comments
Post a Comment