Amid Duterte’s scorching words to Obama and the cancellation of their supposed meeting, White House assures good US-Phl ties.
United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter assured that the defense ties between the United States of America and the Philippines will remain strong despite of the recent fiasco involving both countries.
President Rodrigo Duterte let go of insulting words against US President Barack Obama when he was asked about the possibility of the bringing up of the issue on extrajudicial killings on their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum meeting in Laos.
Duterte’s statement prompted the US president to cancel their supposed to be first ever meeting. The 2016 ASEAN forum meeting is also Duterte’s debut engagement in an international event as a president.
Aside from the assurance that the US-Philippine ties to remain strong, Carter also lauded his Philippine counterpart, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, who he described as intelligent and prudent to “know what to do” with the situation.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Assistant Sec. Charles Jose said Duterte’s statements brought no no negative effect in the relations between the two countries who have been allies for more than 20 years already.