US defense exec warns PHL on buying Russian weapons, equipment

The Philippines buying Russian weapons and military equipment will not be good for its alliance with the United States, a US defense official said on Thursday.

Randall Schriver, US assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, said the purchase of Russian hardware was an indicator of where Philippine-US ties had gone.

"I think they should think very carefully about that," Schriver said when asked about the Philippine government's considering submarines from Russia.

"If they would have proceed with  purchasing major Russian equipment, I don't think that's a helpful thing to the alliance and ultimately I think we can be a better partner than the Russians can be to the Philippine people," he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in June that the government was considering acquiring submarines from South Korea or Russia as part of the military's modernization program.

The Defense chief said the acquisition of submarines is in line with the Third Horizon of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) under Republic Act 10349, which was initiated under President Rodrigo Duterte's predecessor Benigno Aquino III.

"Parang Third Horizon pa 'yung submarine but we are already looking, tumitingin na tayo. Tumitingin tayo sa (South) Korea at ang Russia and other countries," Lorenzana said then.

Schriver pointed to both tactical and political problems if the country pushed through with buying military equipment from Russia.

"When you buy weapons systems particularly major platforms you're not just buying capability, you're investing in a relationship and finding US platforms, US solutions helps us continue in our interoperability, helps us improve our ability to operate in all kinds of scenarios," Schriver said.

"I think more than that, I mean lets understand the nature of this regime in Russia. I don't need to go to the full laundry list , Crimea Ukraine, the chemical attack in the UK. So you are investing in not only platforms but making a statement about our relationship," he added. —NB, GMA News