GOVPH

PH and Russia Security Teams to Strengthen Ties

Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta (top right) meeting with Mr. Sergey I. Buganov (top left), Chief of the First Department on Military and Technical Cooperation at the Philippine Embassy, Moscow on 16 September 2016 where they agreed that Philippine defense and security officials should familiarize themselves with Russian equipment and technology. (Philippine Embassy stock photo)

29 May 2017 MOSCOW —Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta acknowledged the important role played by the military and police who were in Moscow during the recent visit of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“We had many activities lined up for them, all designed to build closer ties between the security establishments of our two countries and for our officials to develop a better and true understanding of Russia and to dispel certain stereotypes through direct contact with Russians and their society,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

This is the reason the Philippine Embassy recommended that they join the President’s visit, “we are the ones who made the recommendation and we are glad it was approved,” Ambassador Sorreta added.

“Their visit and their exposure to Russian society and culture will allow them to see Russia and our potential relations with fresh eyes, something very crucial to the President’s directive to deepen Philippine engagement with Russia in the area of defense and security,” the Ambassador said.

One of the activities lined up for the security officials was a confidential policy briefing on Russian perspectives on the security situation in the Asia-Pacific.

“This kind of engagement would definitely deepen their understanding of Russian policy and strategy,” said Ambassador Sorreta.

Another important meeting included a meeting between the Philippine Coast Guard and Russian Frontier Guard officials to discuss their draft Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Cooperation.

Several Philippine security officials also met with officials from the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation. The FSMTC is a federal agency directly under the Office of the President of the Russian Federation responsible for control and oversight in the field of military-technical cooperation between the Russian Federation and foreign countries.

There has been a steady flow of visits of Philippine defense and security officials over the past twelve months, including two visits by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and even a visit by a team from the Presidential Security Groups which underwent specialized training with the Federal Protective Service of the Russian Federation.

For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph. END