FRIENDLY CALL President Duterte speaks to US President Donald Trump, who invited him for a visit to the White House in a phone call made on the sidelines of a gala dinner hosted by the Philippine leader for heads of states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO
WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump on Saturday invited President Duterte to Washington in a “friendly” call in which the leaders discussed Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs and their countries’ alliance, the White House said.
READ: Trump calls Duterte, affirms PH-US alliance, November visit
Mr. Duterte has faced international condemnation for his brutal crackdown on narcotics, which has claimed thousands of lives and led to warnings from rights groups about possible crimes against humanity.
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders, who were both elected to office last year, had “a very friendly conversation” that included discussion about the Philippine government’s efforts to “rid its country of drugs” and the regional security threat posed by North Korea.
“President Trump also invited President Duterte to the White House to discuss the importance of the US-Philippines alliance, which is now heading in a very positive direction,” the statement said.
Malacañang confirmed Trump’s call to Mr. Duterte, which came at the close of the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in the Philippine capital.
“President Donald Trump called [Mr.] Duterte yesterday evening,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Sunday.
Abella said the conversation between Trump and Mr. Duterte included the expression of commitment by the US leader to the US-Philippine alliance and “his interest in developing a warm, working relationship with Mr. Duterte.”
“President Trump likewise mentioned he looked forward to his visit to the Philippines in November for the East Asia summit,” Abella said.
Invite confirmed
Abella confirmed Trump’s invitation, saying it was an “open invite.”
“[There was] nothing definite,” he told the Inquirer later.
There has been concern about Mr. Duterte’s efforts to loosen the Philippines’ longstanding alliance with the United States as he looks to court China, whose push to control most of the disputed South China Sea has alarmed neighbors.
Mr. Duterte has regularly hit out at the Philippines’ one-time colonial ruler for perceived hypocrisy over human rights and last year branded then US President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch” for criticizing his war on drugs.
READ: Duterte diplomacy: Philippine leader’s global insults
The White House said Trump “enjoyed the conversation” with Mr. Duterte, and looked forward to attending the key US-Asean and East Asia summits in the Philippines in November.
Vice President Mike Pence announced earlier this month that Trump would attend the Asian meetings as a sign of “unwavering commitment” to the region.
Extrajudicial killings
An outspoken populist with shoot-from-the-hip style, Mr. Duterte is accused of ordering extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in his war on drugs.
Philippine police have reported killing 2,724 people as part of Mr. Duterte’s crackdown on narcotics, although authorities insist the shootings have been in self-defense.
READ: Palace: Killings show gravity of PH drug menace
Many thousands of others have been killed by unknown assailants, whom rights groups call vigilantes.
A Philippine lawyer last week filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing Mr. Duterte of mass murder, alleging his war on drugs had led to about 8,000 deaths. —REPORTS FROM AFP, YUJI VINCENT GONZALES, NIKKO DIZON AND NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE