30 January 2017

News Story: Duterte eyes PH-Russia annual military drills

President Rodrigo Duterte had talked about possible military exercises between the Philippine and Russian militaries, similar to the annual Balikatan exercises with the US, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday.

Lorenzana said he is joining Duterte in his scheduled to visit Russia. Lorenzana’s priority is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow exchanges between the 2 militaries so they could get to know each other.

“I’ll accompany the president there. We hope to sign an MOU – a military to military agreement with the Russians – that will allow visitation of troops and perhaps ships coming here,” he said.

Read the full story at Tankler