The Philippines along with its oldest ally, the United States, welcomed three of Russia's warships at the Port of Manila as Russia joints the Balitakan joint military exercises. The Russian Pacific Fleet arrived in the Port to start its 5-day goodwill visit to the Asian country.
Philippine Navy Captain Constancio Reyes Jr. said that the arrival of our Russian Navy counterparts underscores the continuing efforts to further strengthen the relationship between our government and navies. He added that this will further enhance and sustain the promotion of peace and stability and maritime cooperation.
The Russian warships included the anti-submarine Admiral Tributs and Vinogradov and Irkut, a large sea tanker. The Russian navy's mission to the Philippines was headed by Navy Captain Sergey Alantiev. The captain will pay a courtesy call to the Philippines Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad.
The event is the 2nd goodwill visit of Russia to the Philippines in 2019 following its port call where the Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte boarded the Admiral Tributs. The visit of the Russian Navy in the Philippines is part of the annual Balikatan Exercises of the Philippines and the United States which started on April 1 and is scheduled to end on April 12.
Alantiev said that their visit emphasis the Philippines' pursuit of an independent foreign policy as promoted by the Philippine president. The Philippine government also grabbed the aids from China which highlighted the change in its policies.
Alantiev said that such port calls make a tangible contribution to the peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region. We strongly believe that only by combining our resources and efforts can we cope with present-day threats and challenges.
The regime of President Duterte allowed the military deals with Russia. The country also enjoyed aids from the European nation in the form of military equipment. In 2018, commanders of the Philippine navy embarked on the nation's first visit to the Russian port city of Vladivostok. The Philippines and Russia signed a total of 10 deals in May 2017 which included a defense agreement that calls for more military exchanges, a deal to share intelligence and share the knowledge on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The joint military exercise this year is marked as the largest combined forces with 4,000 Filipinos, 3,000 Americans, and 50 Australians. Reports also said that Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam also send delegates which served as observers to the joint military exercises.
