Duterte to oust U.S. troops in the Philippines

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. (PCO photo)

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday that he wanted U.S. troops out of the Philippines in the next two years.

In a speech given before Japanese businessmen in Tokyo, Duterte declared his plan to pursue an independent foreign policy that includes the ousting of U.S. forces from the Philippine soil.

“I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will,” Duterte said.

“This will be the last maneuver, war games between the United States and the Philippines’ military.  Then, in the fullness of God’s time, I am President for six years, no more,” he added.

Duterte who is in a state visit to Japan insisted that he doesn’t need arms from the U.S., only “friendship with everybody.”

“I do not need the arms. I do not want missiles established in my country. I do not need to have the Air Force hosting bombers with hydrogen bombs. Those things I do not need. I just want friendship with everybody,” he said.

“We will survive, without the assistance of America, maybe a lesser quality of life, but as I said, we will survive,” he added.

About 100 U.S. elite troops are in the Philippines performing joint military exercises with the Philippine army, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that was signed in 2014. The agreement enables U.S. to set up non-permanent military bases in the country where they can store defense materials, equipment, and supplies “without rental or similar costs”. EDCA also gives Philippines access to American ships and planes. Today, there are five U.S. military bases in various parts of the Philippines.

EDCA can be terminated by either party by writing notice through diplomatic channels.

(With reports from The Associated Press)