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| Russian Cruiser Varyag (Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Alexis Romero
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Russia are expected to forge a defense cooperation agreement during President Duterte’s visit to Moscow next month, his national security adviser said yesterday.
“Defense cooperation will be finalized when the President visits Moscow by the end of May,” national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told reporters after Duterte’s visit to Russian ship Varyag in South Harbor, Manila.
“Defense cooperation will come in the form of training, probably some exchange of information,” he added.
Asked if the Philippines and Russia would hold joint military exercises, Esperon said: “That’s a long way to go but it can come to that later on.”
“We don’t really intend to go into alliances, which is a tighter agreement. But we can go into partnerships in mutually beneficial activities,” he added.
Esperon said Duterte’s planned visit to Moscow was mentioned during his visit to the guided missile cruiser Varyag.
“(Russia) ambassador (to the Philippines Igor) Khovaev is here… When the President was about to come down, ‘Mr. President, we will see you in May for the trip to Moscow,’” he said.
Duterte is scheduled to visit Russia on May 25 to strengthen ties between Manila and Moscow.
In November, Duterte and Russia President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meet in Lima, Peru to discuss ways to enhance the ties between their countries.
Read the full story at PhilStar