- Title: Russian Navy wants joint exercises with Philippine sailors
- Date: 3rd January 2017
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN LARGE ANTI-SUBMARINE SHIP ADMIRAL TRIBUTS DOCKED AT PIER ADMIRAL TRIBUTS DOCKED/RUSSIAN LARGE SEA TANKER BORIS BUTOMA AT SEA VARIOUS OF BORIS BUTOMA AT SEA WELCOME TARPAULINS TARPAULIN READING (English/Filipino): "WELCOME! ADMIRAL TRIBUTS (DDG-564) OFFICERS AND CREW. GLOBAL MARITIME LOGISTICS SUPPORT, INC. PORT OF MANILA, PHILIPPINES. LONG LIVE!" TARPAULIN READING (English/Filipino): "WELCOME! BORIS BUTOMA OFFICERS AND CREW. GLOBAL MARITIME LOGISTICS SUPPORT, INC. PORT OF MANILA, PHILIPPINES. LONG LIVE! VARIOUS OF ADMIRAL TRIBUTS MEN SCRUBBING FLOOR BESIDE MISSILE SYSTEM TURRET ADMIRAL TRIBUTS RUSSIAN FLAG
- Embargoed: 18th January 2017 09:32
- Keywords: Russia Philippines navy joint military exercise drills sailors terrorism piracy
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XJ08XZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russia wants to hold maritime drills with the Philippines to help combat terrorism and piracy, sending two warships to Manila for the first official navy-to-navy contact, as President Rodrigo Duterte pivots to United States' traditional rivals.
Admiral Tributs, an anti-submarine vessel, and a sea tanker Boris Butoma, arrived late on Tuesday (January 3) for a four-day goodwill visit, with its crew expected to demonstrate anti-terrorism capability and hold talks, said Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, head of the Flotilla of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet.
"We hope that this question will be solved in the nearest future at the highest level, the level of the Commanders-in-Chief and we will take part in joint exercises. We as naval officers need that without any doubt. First of all it means learning from each other, and most importantly all of it is aimed at protection of interests and sovereignty of our states especially here in the tense Asia-Pacific region," Mikhailov told a news conference, adding Russia has been holding drills with the Indonesian navy.
"One of the most important problems nowadays is international terrorism and piracy which we should be ready to work with. This will certainly be at core of our cooperation and exercises," he added as the Russian navy showcased the warships.
A spokesman for the Philippine Navy told reporters this is the first official interaction with the Russian navy, an arch rival of its former colonial master and closest ally in the region, the United States.
Washington and the Philippines have been holding naval exercises annually but Duterte has instructed the defense ministry to "reformat" drills with Washington, moving away from the South China Sea to repair relations with China.
Mikhailov said they were willing to help train Philippine counterparts to fight piracy and terrorism and they hope to foster stronger security in the region.
The Philippines has been struggling to prevent Islamist militants from abducting crew of slow-moving tugboat and foreigners sailing on yachts in the southern maritime borders with Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent group which has had links to al Qaeda and has pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants, is holding a German tourist and more than 10 Malaysian and Indonesian crewmen. A Dutch and a Japanese are also being held captive.
Last month, Duterte sent his foreign and defense ministers to Moscow to explore arms deal after a U.S. senator said he will block the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to concerns with the rising death toll in a war on drugs.
More than 6,000 have been killed in the drug crackdown since Duterte took office on June 30, roughly a third in operations when suspected drug peddlers and users resisted arrests. The rest are classified as under investigation, many believed to be the work of vigilantes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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