Manila : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to end joint military drills with the US to emphasise his country’s independence from that country, the presidential spokesperson said on Thursday.
Duterte on Wednesday announced his intention to put an end to the regular military exercises between the US and Philippine armed forces in a speech in Vietnam where he is on an official visit, EFE news reported.
“(Duterte) wants to mark the course of a free and independent Philippines … He sees it as something that will bring well-being and prosperity to the nation,” spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. Although Abella seemed to be hinting at a shift in the country’s foreign policy, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay had clarified after the speech that Duterte was referring to joint patrols in international waters.Duterte said the drill between the US and the Philippines starting from October 4 and 12 in Luzon and Palawan regions will be the last ones.
