General Nikolai Patrushev , director of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, leaves Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City after a press briefing on Friday, Feb. 17, where National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. announced the conclusion of the three-day bilateral talks between the security councils of the two countries. The talks, according to Esperon could lead to an arms deal with Russia, among other things. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Military and trade deals are currently in the works after a Russian delegation led by Security Council of the Russian Federation Sec. Nikolai Patrushev met with their Philippine counterparts in Davao City.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. announced on Friday in a press briefing here that among the topics discussed were in the fields of (1) security and intelligence, (2) defense and the military, (3) law enforcement, (4) terrorism and transnational crime, (5) anti-illegal drugs work plan, and, (6) maritime law enforcement.
Esperon hinted at possible joint military exercises with Russia, but maintained that everything was “put on hold” until after the Memoranda of Understanding are formally signed, possibly during President Duterte’s planned visit to Moscow.
“While we talked a lot on future cooperation during the bilaterals yesterday, everything is, shall we say put on hold until we have the agreements. But certainly there are many things that we can do now with the agreements,” Esperon said.
When asked about a possible arms deal, Esperon said they were “entertaining all offers.”
“There were side events on matter of purchase of equipment. We are entertaining all offers, as you may have noted. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is in continuous buildup for a credible defense capability, so we are doing multi-sourcing now,” Esperon said.
When pressed for specifics, Esperon said they could start with the purchase of trucks, aircraft, and frigates.
Esperon also called the meeting “historic,” noting that the delegation was composed of senior officials. While the Philippines have had diplomatic relations with Russia since the 1970s, Esperon said the latest delegation was the “biggest” in recent history.
Apart from Patrushev, in the Russian delegation were Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines Igor Khovaev, First Deputy Minister of Justice Sergey Gerasimov, Deputy Minister of Interior Igor Zubov, Deputy Director of Federal Protection Service of ther Russian Federation Viktor Tulupov, Russian Army Chief Oleg Salyukov, Asst. Sec. of the Security Council Alexander Venediktov, and Russian Coast Guard Department Frontier Service Head Alexey Volskiy.
Their Philippine counterparts, meanwhile, included National Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Interior and Local Government Sec. Ismael D. Sueño, Justice Usec. Antonio Kho, Jr., and Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta.
On Thursday, Duterte received the Russian delegations in a farewell dinner, where he emphasized that the Philippines could only “offer its sincerest friendship that is based on equality.”
‘Interdependent Foreign Policy’
Esperon also said that the current situation in the country needed an “interdependent foreign policy,” notably different from Duterte’s pronouncements of an independent foreign policy.
“By constitution, we must have an independent foreign policy, but in the current situation, it must be an interdependent foreign policy,” Esperon said.
“As you can see, we are maintaining alliances, but we are also pursuing robust relations with our neighbors, such as China, Japan, Korea, and of course, Russia, which is a Eurasian country,” Esperon added. (davaotoday.com)
