Russian warships dock in Manila as Moscow seeks naval drills with Philippines

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Philippine Navy band members play music to welcome the Russian Navy vessel Admiral Tributs, a large anti-submarine ship, as it docks at the south harbour port area in Metro Manila on January 3, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:52pm, 3 Jan 2017Updated: 10:41pm, 3 Jan 2017

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 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.

Russian navy vessel, Admiral Tributs, a large anti-submarine ship, is seen as it docks at the south harbour port area in metro Manila. Photo: Reuters

“Our governments will maybe discuss in some period of time the possibilities of our maritime exercises,” Mikhailov told a news conference, adding Russia has been holding drills with the Indonesian navy.

“The biggest problem now in the world is terrorism and piracy, and all our exercises we have, for example, with you we will have to fight these problems and we will show you what we can do and we will see what you can do and show us,” he added as the Russian navy showcased the warships.

Philippine Navy Commander Naval Combat Engineering Brigadier Francisco Gabudao Jnr (left) with Russian Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, Deputy Commander of Flotilla of Pacific Fleet of Russia at Manila’s pier on January 3, 2017. Photo: AP

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.