By: Aaron Mehta
HONOLULU – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s comment comparing himself to Adolf Hitler is “very troubling,” US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Friday.
Duterte was quoted Friday by the Reuters news service as comparing himself to German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and indicating he would like to do to some citizens of the Philippines what Hitler did the Jewish citizens of Europe.
"There are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I'd be happy to slaughter them,” Reuters quoted Duterte as saying. "You know my victims. I would like (them) to be all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition."
Duterte, who took office in June, has openly called for the murder of criminals in the past and has in the past been linked to death squads that allegedly killed both drug dealers and critics when Duterte was mayor of a Philippine city.
His comments, which have also included personally insulting US President Barack Obama, have put a strain on the relationship between the US and Philippine militaries, which have a 60-odd year long relationship. That pressure is particularly acute as the Pentagon’s strategy for the pacific relies heavily on the Philippines, including development at five military bases in the country.
Speaking Thursday ahead of today’s meeting of the ASEAN defense ministers, Carter called the relationship between the two nations “ironclad” and spoke of how military ties will only grow in the future, despite a recent statement from Duterte that he wanted to end all bi-lateral military exercises with the US.
But alerted to Duterte’s comment Friday, Carter said he found them “deeply troubling” and said that particular matter did not come up in conversations with Philippine Minister of Defense Delfin Lorenzana.
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