Philippines is interested to cooperate with Russia in the fields of defense and security TASS 11112162

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Defence & Security News - Philippines
 
Philippines is interested to cooperate with Russia in the fields of defense and security.
The Philippines is interested in cooperating with Russia in the defense and security spheres but it is not discussing participation in military alliances in Asia Pacific, Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said in the wake of his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
     
The Philippines is interested in cooperating with Russia in the defense and security spheres but it is not discussing participation in military alliances in Asia Pacific, Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said in the wake of his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Philippines army soldiers at military parade.
     
"Certainly, we are studying the feasibility of more active cooperation with Russia, including defense and security cooperation," the Philippine foreign minister said, "but we have not discuss participating in military alliances. We are not interested in membership in military alliances. I think both of us are certain that the idea is unlikely to work in the region like this."

The Russian foreign minister added in turn that Russia saw no need for military alliances or blocs in Asia Pacific.

"We cooperate in both military and military-technical spheres," Lavrov noted. "Warships of our navies have visited posts in both countries. As Minister Yasay said, the Philippine defense minister is in Moscow, too, for meetings in the Defense Ministry and Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation."

"We consider these areas of cooperation to be absolutely normal and promising, for we maintain similar links with most countries in the region, most of the ASEAN countries," the Russian foreign minister added.

In September 2016, a delegation from the Philippine Department of National Defense was in Moscow to visit the International Military Rechnical Forum, Army-2016 showcasing the latest innovations in the field of armament and military equipment. This defense exhibition brings together the major players in Russia’s military-industrial complex and delegations from 80 countries, including the Philippines.
     
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