Duterte eyes arms deals on Israel trip

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will arrive tomorrow for a visit to Israel and Jordan, pursuing a pivot away from his nation’s long-time reliance on American military hardware and backing.

The four-day stay in Israel is the first by a Philippine leader in over 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, yet their links go back to Manila sheltering Jews during the Holocaust.

Duterte’s visit is generating a lot of attention, powered both by his penchant for foulmouthed statements – including likening himself to Hitler – and his internationally condemned drug crackdown that has killed thousands.

Duterte, accompanied by an entourage including soldiers and police, will sit down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hold an event with some of thousands of Filipino migrant workers in Israel. He has pivoted the Philippines away from its former colonial master the United States and toward warmer diplomatic and business ties with China and Russia.

The US and Canada have both had military hardware deals fall apart with the Philippines due to concerns over Duterte’s drug war. But so far sales with Israel have gone smoothly.

“(The visit) is for President Duterte to look for an alternative market for ... weapons for our armed forces as well as for the police,” Henelito Sevilla, an international relations expert at University of the Philippines, told AFP.

Israel is among the world’s top arms dealers, with nearly 60 per cent of its defence exports going to the Asia Pacific region, according to Israeli defence ministry data.

The Philippines emerged as a significant new customer in 2017 for Israel, with sales of radar and anti-tank equipment worth US$21 million.

There could be far bigger deals on the way as Manila plans a multi-billion dollar overhaul of its armed forces. Duterte has been dismissive of American sales overtures, saying he does not need US fighter jets or submarines.

Manila says the trip is expected to yield signed agreements on defence as well as labour, which is one of the Philippines’ top exports. Some 10 million Filipinos work abroad and send home money that is a lifeline to the economy.

Manila is keen to ink agreements that protect the workers’ conditions and pay, who are seen as national heroes at home. Duterte heads to Jordan on Sept 5, where he is expected to meet with King Abdullah II.