Won’t allow United States to treat Philippines as colony: Rodrigo Duterte

In his departure speech, Duterte said the visit underscores his independent foreign policy and desire to forge closer ties with Russian Federation, which “must cease to be on the margins of Philippine diplomacy”. Duterte’s visit is expected to stimulate the low key relationship as the Philippines tries to explore better alliances outside its usual ally, the US.

“There are opportunities for cooperation that can not be ignored”.

This has partly been due to China and Russian Federation supporting or at least not criticizing his controversial war on drugs, which has left thousands of people dead and led to warnings by rights groups that Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. “I’m a heavy smoker before, but now I smoke only after meals”, he said, puffing a Marlboro at a public area near his workplace. “They make conditions. But I’m not gonna stand on bended knees”.

“Everything is new. What I see here with Russian Federation, it’s newly opened kind of relationship and can be discussed all aspects of cooperation”.

“We need weapons because we have two serious problems before us: terrorism and narcotics”, he said.

Among his many foreign trips, his recent visit to China was also created to diversify the Southeast Asian nations’ trade as relations with allies such as the European Union and the U.S. become increasingly chilly.

Mr. Duterte, who chairs this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings, will hold his second bilateral meeting with his “idol” Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Mr. Duterte met last year at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.

“Russia must cease to be at the margins of Philippine diplomacy”, he said in a speech before leaving for Moscow.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier had challenged the European Union to stop its assistance after the bloc warned that the Philippines risks losing tariff-free exports to Europe because of the thousands killed in the war on drugs launched by Duterte and Manila’s moves to revive the death penalty.

A wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is scheduled on Wednesday afternoon before the President will be conferred for an honorary doctorate degree at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University).

These agreements are those related to defense, security, legal assistance, trade and investment, peaceful use of nuclear energy, and culture.

Duterte quarreled with the outgoing USA administration in the fall of 2016, as the former President Barack Obama claimed that Manila is violating human rights, practicing extrajudicial executions of individuals suspected of drug trafficking.

Until Duterte’s ascent to power, the United States had usually been the preferred choice of the Philippines as the two countries are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty and related agreements.

“Russia sells arms; it does not impose any conditions”, he said.

An worldwide court ruled last July that China had no historic rights to resources in waters claimed by the Philippines in a case brought by Duterte’s predecessor Benigno Aquino. “I will tell them that your government continues to work very hard to give you, the country and future you all deserve”, he said.

Asked for the explanation behind the rejected development aid, Jessen said “human rights were mentioned”.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said their meeting was frank and friendly, and the discussion was largely about preventing conflict, not threatening it. We’re an independent country. “But if you force the issue, we will go to war”. You are welcome here. “Russia is better at this than the Americans, I made a decision to contact her”.

Also, the Philippines is a beneficiary country under the Generalized Preferential System of Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russian Federation.