Russia seeks to put up joint weapons production hub in PH

MANILA, Philippines — Russia is proposing to set up a weapons manufacturing company in the Philippines, Moscow’s Ambassador to Manila Igor Khovaev said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We have a very good proposal for you Filipinos. We are ready to optimize a joint production of Russian sophisticated light arms in the Philippines,” he told reporters in his residence in Makati City.

“They will be Filipino products based on Russian technologies… The Philippines will be the exporter of advanced small firearms and weapons,” he said.

The Russian envoy said both sides were committed to exploring new areas in defense cooperation.

The Philippines, which is actively modernizing its armed forces, has been diversifying its supply of defense equipment from different countries.

According to Khovaev, Russia is ready to supply weapons to the Philippines and help strengthen its military capability without “political conditionality.”

These stepped-up engagements with Russia are a result of President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed independent foreign policy, where he steered the country closer toward Moscow and Beijing while alienating the United States, the country’s traditional ally.

/atm