MANILA, Philippines — Russia has no intention to inflict any damage on the Philippines’ close relationship with the United States and its traditional allies and partners, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev said Monday night.
It is possible for the Philippines to have strong security cooperation with Russia while at the same time maintaining its strong alliance with the US and other traditional allies, according to the envoy.
“Yes, why not? That’s why I would like to repeat… we have no intention to inflict any damage to a close relationship of the Philippines with your traditional allies and partners. And as ambassador, believe me… I have never received any instructions from Moscow from my government in this respect. Our aim is absolutely different – to build a new partnership between our two countries,” Khovaev told “The Chiefs” Monday night on Cignal TV’s One News channel.
The ambassador stressed that Russia does not seek any military alliance in the region.
“We are against any other military alliance in the Asia-Pacific region because the security must be for all, not for a select (few),” he said.
Russia provided guns, trucks, helmets and other ammunition to the Philippine military during the Marawi siege.
He said Russia’s donation does not require any legal framework.
“It’s just a donation, of course, and it was our moral duty to support your country in your legitimate struggle against terrorism because for us Russians, there’s no need to explain what terrorism means. My country, we suffered a lot from terrorism and all responsible members of the international community must put all contradictions aside and to combine efforts in the struggle against terrorism,” Khovaev added.