Duterte sets dialogue with Putin, but not with Trump

President Rodrigo Duterte will meet Friday afternoon, November 10, with one of his two mostsought allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Da Nang, Vietnam.

A much-touted first face-to-face dialogue between Duterte and United States President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is not likely to happen in Vietnam.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said the meeting with Trump was more likely to push through during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila.

Teehankee, however, said Duterte and Trump would have the opportunity to interact with each other during the Apec events.

“A fuller bilateral ( meeting) will be more impressive in the Asean context, where of course, the President (Duterte) is the host country and the host chair at the gala dinner, as well as in this very important (and) first ever meeting between President Trump and President Duterte,” he said.

Meanwhile, Teehankee said Duterte was expected to personally thank Putin for Russia’s assistance to the Philippines since the armed conflict in Marawi City erupted on May 23.

Duterte was in Russia for a week-long official visit when fighting between government forces and terrorists inspired by global terror group Islamic State broke out in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. He cut short his trip and returned to the Philippines to address the situation.

Teehankee said the recently-concluded Marawi conflict would be among the issues that will be discussed during the meeting between Duterte and Putin.

Duterte will also separately hold bilateral talks with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Thursday afternoon.