The Philippines became the world’s “center of gravity” in the areas of defense and security as Manila hosted ships and officials from the US and Russia in succession for defense exchange and cooperation discussions.
Over at the other side of the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. was in China locked in a meeting with Chinese officials as part of the two countries’ effort to further cement their ties that had warmed up under the Duterte administration.
The visits by key defense and military officials from the world’s two superpowers were made just as the country was holding exploratory talks on its decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the US and Russia’s effort to build its defense relations with Manila.
On Monday, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov, the Russian Navy commander in chief, began its military visit in the country where it met with his counterpart, Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad and other defense and military officials, including Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana days later.
Korolyov was specifically welcomed at the Navy headquarters by Empedrad on Wednesday, the eve of the initial talks between Lorenzana and US Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Joe Felter on the MDT, whose vague provisions Lorenzana wanted to be clarified.
The meeting, whose outcome was keenly awaited by military reporters on Thursday, took place just hours after the USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet, left Manila after days of a port visit.
The Navy’s command and control ship sailed out of the country after its presence was relieved by the USS Chief, a US minesweeper, which marked its first voyage into the country from a visit in Indonesia and Singapore.
During Empedrad’s meeting with Korolyov, both agreed to further solidify the two countries’ navy-to-navy relations through the conduct of training, education and other direct engagements of their sailors and more visits of ships.
“These are what we discussed during the meeting,” Empedrad said, adding that Korolyov’s presence in the country was in reciprocity to the trip he made to Russia last year, wherein he moved with Russian military officials to deepen the military relations between the two countries.
A cooperation agreement will be signed by Empedrad when he travels to Moscow in July this year to further strengthen the relations between the two sides, with the scheduled visit following the staff-to-staff meeting scheduled in June.
During the meeting, Empedrad said that his Russian counterpart also personally extended his invitation for the Philippine Navy to attend the fleet review to mark the Russian Navy’s anniversary celebration.
Empedrad also said that he opened to Korolyov the need of the Philippine Navy for more ships and other assets and equipment for its capability buildup.
In return, Korolyov indicated that they can donate decommissioned ships or even accord them through grants. It could also include aircraft and even equipment.
Empedrad said that Russia is continuously proposing to provide the country with Kilo-class submarines, but any decision on the proposal would be up to the higher headquarters.
Lorenzana earlier said that Russia could be a possible source for the Navy’s submarine requirement.
Image credits: (Andrea Verdelli/Pool Photo via AP