U.S. mousy over Phl-Russia deals

As relations between the Philippines and Russia continue to warm, Malacañang on Monday disclosed that it is expecting the United States — Manila’s only defense ally — to be “a little insecure” following President Rodrigo Duterte’s second official visit to Moscow last week.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo explained that while the Philippine leader “maintains his alliance with the US, he feels that the Philippines needs to open itself with all those countries willing to help… so that we can have deals with them: trade and others.”

The Palace official added that there is an “ongoing negotiation” between Manila and Moscow about “the purchase of certain military equipment,” although he did not provide additional details.

Asked if this will have any effect to Manila’s ties with Washington, Panelo replied, “Perhaps… it will be for the better because the US will now feel a little insecure about it.”

“Washington should be more open to giving us fair deals,” Panelo said.

During Duterte’s Russia visit, he noted that he had wanted to buy weapons and choppers from the US “but (it) refused because (it) placed conditions… like you cannot use these against insurgents or against your own people.”

Russia and China, on the other hand, donated rifles to the Philippines when Islamic State sympathizers laid siege to the southern city of Marawi in 2017.

“Until now, they haven’t asked for anything, according to the President, not even for a single toothpick,” Panelo said.

Moscow and Washington — the world’s largest nuclear powers — have squabbled over various issues, including tensions in Syria, the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and allegations of election meddling.

Russia’s ally China, meanwhile, is engaged in a trade war with the US and a territorial dispute with the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea.

“We have to open ourselves to all the states — friends to all, enemies to none. Depending on the interest of our country, if it will benefit us, then we will be friends with them,” Panelo said.

Although the Philippines has not distanced from the US, President Duterte has taken a different path compared to his predecessors.

He kept the Philippines close to China, engaging the country in different deals, including the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The President’s latest trip to Moscow also opened up new possibilities in trade and investment between Manila and Moscow, with Russia offering support to the country’s program to build a nuclear power plant in the future. Elmer Manuel