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Philippines' Duterte tours Russian warship amid warming ties
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (center) watches as Russian navy officers show the weapons on board the Russian anti-submarine Navy vessel Admiral Tributs in Manila, Philippines on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. Duterte toured one of two Russian warships docked at Manila's port in another gesture of warming ties with Moscow. (AP/Aaron Favila)
P
hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte has toured one of the two Russian warships docked in Manila in another gesture of warming ties with Moscow as he shifts his country's foreign policy away from long-time ally, the United States.
Rear Adm. Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet, and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev escorted Duterte and several of cabinet members around the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs.
At one point during Friday's visit, Duterte looked out from the ship's deck and pumped his fist in the air.
Russia is eyeing naval exercises with the Philippines and deployed the Admiral Tributs and sea tanker Boris Butoma on a five-day goodwill visit to Manila.
Filipinos were allowed to tour the huge ships and Russian marines demonstrated their combat capabilities.
