Russian warships announce surprise joint drills in Philippines

Sputnik
Wed, 04 Jan 2017 08:15 UTC

© Sputnik/ Vitaliy Ankov

The Admiral Trubts destroyer

In a move few could have predicted to start off 2017, the Russian destroyer Admiral Tributs and sea tanker Boris Butomato have arrived in the Philippines to conduct military training exercises in an unprecedented navy-to-navy contact between the two nations.

The warships arrived in the region on Tuesday as Russian Navy Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov proclaimed a joint mission between Manila and Moscow to target the region's two most pressing security concerns, maritime piracy and terrorism.

"We're very sure," the commander of the Russian pacific fleet said, "in the future" Russia and the Philippines will "get such exercises, maybe just the maneuvering." Alternatively, "maybe just use some combat systems and so on," he noted, so as not to tip Russia's hand concerning its regional naval strategy.

"We will show you what we can do, and we will see what you can do, and show us," he said, adding that the Russian Navy has carried out exercises with the Indonesian navy.

"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."

"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.

© Philppine Navy / Facebook

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signaled a drastic shift from long-standing ties with the US as Manila seeks to bolster relations with traditional US rivals China and Russia. Duterte instructed the nation's defense ministry to "reformat" drills with Washington, even though the Philippines was once a US territory and the two countries formally agreed to a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951.

© Philippine Navy / Facebook

Mikhailov indicated, however, that East Asian players, including China and "maybe" Malaysia could also coordinate with Russian-Philippine training exercises "in a few years." Maintaining the involvement of these regional partners is crucial for ensuring the stability of the South China Sea, where competing territorial claims continue to fuel geopolitical tensions.

In a recent year-end interview, Duterte openly confessed that his cousins have pledged allegiance to Daesh in Mindanao, the southern-most island of the Philippines. "Let's be frank: I have cousins on the other side," he said. Later in the interview he claimed his loyalty to the Philippines outweighs that of his own blood. "I'm sorry but, you know, I am serving [the] Republic; I am not serving a relationship."

Comment: Russia Offers Philippines Close Friendship, Weapons

Moscow is ready to become a "close friend of the Philippines" as the southeastern Asian country diversifies its foreign ties, Russia's ambassador has said.

Since taking office in June, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made repeated threats and verbal tirades against the United States, a long-time ally, while taking steps to boost relations with China and Russia.

Two Russian warships are currently on a four-day visit to Manila -- the first official navy-to-navy contact between the two countries.

"We don't interfere with your relations with your traditional partners and your traditional partners should respect the interest of the Philippines and Russia," Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev told a news conference on board the Russian antisubmarine vessel Admiral Tributs on January 4.

Khovaev also said Russia was ready to supply the Philippines with "sophisticated weapons," including aircraft and submarines.