Ministry announces new regulatory requirements for factories within and outside urban areas    SFDA publishes guidelines for travelers to obtain clearance permit for controlled drugs    11 expats arrested for prostitution in Najran    Saudi Arabia's inflation falls to 5-month low reaching 2.1% in July    SOCPA fellowship opens for professionals worldwide with exam slated for September    Putin praises Trump's peace efforts and floats potential nuclear deal at Alaska summit    Al Nassr arrive in Hong Kong targeting Saudi Super Cup glory    Saudi referee Reem Al-Bishi selected for FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup in Philippines    WHO designates Jeddah and Madinah among 16 "Healthy Cities"    Australia and Vanuatu agree to $328m security and business deal    Red Sea International achieves 44% growth in operating profits for H1 2025 The company announces Q2 2025 financial results    Humanitarian groups call on Israel to end 'weaponization of aid' in Gaza    Melania Trump threatens to sue Hunter Biden for $1bn over Epstein claim    Baby Shark did not plagiarize, South Korea's top court rules    Unreasonable wages, salary delays to trigger violations under Mudad system    PIF raises $9.83 billion in 2024, boosts global ranking to 11th, says Yasir Al-Rumayyan    Visual Arts Commission set to launch Art Bridges Cultural Programs in Scotland, Japan, Korea, and Spain    Saudi Pro League unveils 2025-26 fixture list with blockbuster opening clashes    Donations of living organs rise to 4.9% in Saudi Arabia in 2024    Saudi Arabia exit FIBA Asia Cup after overtime heartbreak against Philippines    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Philippines says finalizing deal to hold Russian military drills
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 01 - 2017

The Philippines is finalizing a security deal with Russia allowing the two countries' leaders to exchange visits and observe military drills, a minister said on Monday, at the same time assuring the United States that ties with Moscow will not affect its alliance with its traditional ally.
Two Russian warships made port calls in Manila last week with President Rodrigo Duterte touring an anti-submarine vessel, saying he hoped Moscow would become his country's ally and protector.
Duterte has thrown the future of Philippine-US relations into question with angry outbursts against the United States, a former colonial power, and some scaling back of military ties while taking steps to improve relationships with China and Russia.
In October, Duterte insulted US President Barack Obama and said the United States had refused to sell some weapons to his country but he did not care because Russia and China were willing suppliers.
He is due to go to Moscow in April. The visit by the Russian warships was the first official navy-to-navy contact between the two countries.
"We will observe their exercises," Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana told reporters during the military's traditional New Year's call at the main army base in Manila.
"If we need their expertise, then we will join the exercises. That's the framework of the memorandum of understanding that is going to be signed. It could be a joint exercises but, initially, its going to be exchange of visits."
Lorenzana assured Washington the military agreement with Moscow would not allow rotational deployment of Russian troops, planes and ships in Manila for mutual defense.
"It's not similar to the US which is a treaty, Mutual Defense Treaty, which mandates them to help us in case we're attacked," he said. "We wont have that with Russia. The MOU is about exchange of military personnel, visits and observation of exercises."
He said the Philippines also expected a team of Russian security experts to visit to discuss the sale of new weapons systems.
Last month, Duterte sent his foreign and defense ministers to Moscow to discuss arms deals after a US senator said he would block the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to concern about a rising death toll in a war on drugs launched by Duterte.


Clic here to read the story from its source.