US military will be expelled if nuclear weapons are found in the Philippines, Philippines President warns US

Manila: – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte warned the United States, ‘If it is found that the United States has brought nuclear weapons to its military base in the Philippines, the US military will be expelled out of the country.’ For the last few weeks, the Philippines President is unhappy over the US military deployment. Two weeks ago, the Philippines President had warned that the United States would have to pay rent for using land for the military base. President Duterte clarified his country’s stand regarding the US military deployment while talking to the media at the Wilmore airport at Pasay. The Philippines has an independent foreign policy, and it is not under the influence of the United States, China or any other country. President Duterte warned that even if the United States has a military base in the country, nuclear weapons storage or deployment will not be tolerated.

President Duterte threatened, ‘The moment it is confirmed that the United States has stored nuclear weapons under the disguise of military bases, the US soldiers will be expelled from the country. At the same time, the Philippines will also withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement signed with the United States.’ Duterte also clarified, ‘This does not mean that the Philippines is opposed to the US nuclear deployment because of the fear of enmity with China. But the Philippines does not want any deployment of such weapons in the country’.

The Philippines has already made space available to the United States for air and naval bases. President Duterte announced, ‘In the coming times if a discord develops between the United States and China, the first country to come under attack could be the Philippines. Taking this into account, the Philippines will be adopting an independent foreign policy for the country’s security.’ President Duterte had said that if the United States intends to continue with the military cooperation established with the Philippines two decades ago, the United States will have to pay rent for the space used by it for its military bases. It was revealed that the US representatives had met President Duterte after this. Also, the Biden administration has assured the Philippines that the United States will protect the Philippines against Chinese bullying in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, the US military bases and military deployment has perpetually been a topic of discussion. Ever since Duterte took over as the President, he has threatened the United States to vacate the military bases.