Philippine president ready to open country’s ‘facilities’ to US forces under 1951 mutual defense treaty if Russia’s war against Ukraine turns for the worst and confuses the United States in fighting, Manila’s ambassador to Washington said Thursday.
Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said President Rodrigo Duterte made remarks in a recent encounter in Manila where the president also expressed concern over the global Economic impact of the current crisis. The Philippines condemned the invasion and I voted “yes” on a UN General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate end to the attack and the withdrawal of all Russian troops in Ukraine.
Duterte, whose storm six-year term ends in June, forged closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping while often criticizing US security policies in the first years of his presidency. But Romualdez said Duterte told him the Russian invasion has been wrong.
“He says if they ask for the support of the Philippines is very clear this, of Of course, if things go well, the Philippines will be ready to be part of of the effort, especially if this Ukrainian crisis overflows over asian style regionsaid Romualdez in a online Report with Manila-based journalists. “Give them the assurance that in case of need, the Philippines is ready to offer any facilities or anything that the United States will want need be of legal age – our number one ally.”
Duterte did not specify in his remarks about the Philippine installations that American forces would gain access to, but Romualdez said these could include the sprawling freeports of Clark and Subic Bay to the northwest of Manila which was one of the largest American cities air and naval bases outside the American mainland until American forces withdraw from them in the early 1990s.
There was no immediate comment of Duterte or son office.
Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 commits the United States and the Philippines to help of The other in Case of a attack. US officials have repeatedly assured their Filipino counterparts in in recent years that they would honor their treaty obligations if Philippine forces, ships or aircraft fell under attack in the disputed South China Sea, including by China.
we national security officials have scheduled a meeting at the White House with ambassadors of the association of Southeast Asian countries to discuss expanding US sanctions this week on Russia, including President Joe Biden’s ban on Russian oil imports, Romualdez said.
Romualdez also said he learned that Ukraine had appealed to many countries, including the Philippines, “to stop doing business with Russia,” but said he did not know if the request had been officially forwarded to Manila.
Another topic at the meeting with US officials this week is Biden’s invitation to ASEAN leaders of state of participating in a special american summit on March 28. The 76-year-Old Duterte May skip the event because it falls on son birthday and also because it’s okay occur during the busy Election season in the Philippines, Romualdez said.
