Russia offers arms technology to the Philippines with ‘no conditions’ as US ties falter
- Moscow proposes manufacturing light arms and small weapons in the Southeast Asian nation after meeting between presidents Duterte and Putin this month
- But Philippine defence chief says ‘they are ready but we may not be’
Moscow is offering to help the Philippines produce its own arms for both domestic use and export with the help of Russian technology, envoy Igor Khovaev has revealed.
The proposal comes less than a month after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s second state visit to Russia. It also comes as ties with the United States, Manila’s traditional military ally, remain strained over human rights concerns related to Duterte’s war on drugs.
“We are ready to organise joint production of Russian sophisticated light arms and small weapons here in the Philippines,” Khovaev said.
“Filipinos will produce Russian arms and weapons – they will be Philippine products based on Russian technologies. We are ready to supply our sophisticated technologies in order to help your country develop your own defence industry.”
The envoy stressed that the offer would have “no political conditions”.
“Russia will never teach anyone human rights ... We’ll never use our defence cooperation as a pretext to interfere, to meddle in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states,” he said.