Duterte tours visiting Russian warship Varyag

President Duterte (center), Philippine and Russian officials pose with clenched fists on the deck of the guided Russian missile cruiser Varyag which was docked at the Pier 15 in Manila on Friday. —JOAN BONDOC

President Duterte boarded a Soviet carrier for the second time in four months when he visited the Russian warship Varyag on Friday, boosting ties with the world’s largest nation anew.

“The Russians are with me, so I shall not be afraid,” the President said as he toured the ship’s bow after checking out its antiship missile.

Mr. Duterte’s tour of the Varyag, which is docked in Manila, was a “goodwill” visit, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, who joined the President. It comes ahead of his expected trip to Moscow next month.

A defense cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Russia is expected to be finalized during Mr. Duterte’s trip in May, Esperon said.

The agreement could cover training and exchange of information as well as possible joint military exercises between the two countries later on, he said.

“There’s a long way to go, but it can come to that later on,” he said.

Esperon said the Philippines did not intend to go into military alliances, which would be a “tighter agreement.”

“But we can go into partnerships in mutually beneficial activities,” he said.

Esperon said Moscow was anticipating Mr. Duterte’s trip.

“Mr. President, we will see you in May for the trip to Moscow,” he quoted Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev as telling Mr. Duterte before the latter left the Varyag.

Esperon said the President had been impressed with the guided missile cruiser that he toured.

“The President has not boarded many ships, so he took time to come here,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo also joined the visit.

Mr. Duterte posed for photos with the Russian officers, who imitated his signature clenched fist pose.

In January, Mr. Duterte visited the Admiral Tributs, a Russian antisubmarine vessel, where he told officials that they were welcome to come back to the country. He also said Russia could be the Philippines’ ally.

While the President has been visiting Russian carriers, he did not join cabinet officials when they boarded the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in March.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II were the ones who flew last month to the USS Carl Vinson, which patrols the disputed South China Sea.

Mr. Duterte has been cultivating close ties with Russia and China, and at the same time distancing the Philippines from its traditional ally the United States.

The President had lashed out at the United States for its criticisms of his  war on drugs.

Meanwhile, China on Friday challenged two of the country’s fighter planes, one of them carrying Lorenzana, as they flew to the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

Esperon said China’s challenge to Philippine fighter planes was a normal occurrence in areas with overlaps of territory, but it did not mean the country did not mind the incident.

Esperon said a challenge could mean being asked to identify yourself, or being questioned because the other party thought the area was its territory.