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Duterte on US alliance: 'Do you really think we need it?'
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A US Marine from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (center) flashes the thumbs up sign as he poses with fellow US marines and their Philippine counterpart following the opening ceremony of the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marines corps in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines Oct. 4, 2016. (AP/Bullit Marquez)
T
he Philippine president says he will not abrogate a defense treaty with the United States but is questioning its importance and that of joint combat exercises, which he says only benefit America.
President Rodrigo Duterte criticized the United States and his country's engagement with the American military in a speech Tuesday as Philippine marines and their American counterparts ended combat drills a day early.
Philippine military officials said the early completion of the joint amphibious landing drills had nothing to do with Duterte's criticism of the exercises.
Duterte has said the just-concluded joint drills will be the last in his six-year presidency.
