The Philippines, which has a military alliance with the United States, officially announced on Wednesday that it has canceled a contract signed last year to buy 16 military helicopters from Russia worth 228 million euros. The Ministry of Defense in Manila confirmed what the press had already reported, according to AFP.

The Ministry of Defense in Manila confirmed that the decision was made by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, as reported by the press.

AFP reminds that there has been a military alliance between the US and the Philippines for a long time and blames the termination of the contract on US sanctions against Russia.

Ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong did not mention those sanctions when he said the formalization of the decision was ongoing at the institution he represents.

He assured that the cancellation of the project by the previous government was the result of “a change of priorities, which became necessary in connection with world political events.”

Felipin has already paid an advance for the Russian helicopters

In March, Delfin Lozentsana, Duterte’s defense secretary, said the purchase of the helicopters was still ongoing and that the advance had also been paid before the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted sanctions against Moscow.

However, the same official said last week that the former president changed his mind before handing over power on June 30 to the new head of state, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who confirmed the decision.

“I don’t know if we will be able to return the money, because the termination of the contract is on our side,” Lozentsana explained to the press.

The Russian embassy in Manila did not respond to AFP’s request for comment on Wednesday.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Romualdez explained to AFP that the reason for the cancellation is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Since February, when Russian troops entered Ukraine, the United States and its allies have imposed a series of sanctions aimed at isolating Moscow from the global financial system and cutting off sources of funding for the war.

The US provides other helicopters

The diplomat, quoted by AFP, said his country also feared the consequences of a 2017 US law that would have sanctioned anyone doing business with Russian intelligence or defense agencies.

“The United States is offering us other helicopters to meet our needs,” he added.

The Philippines began a military modernization program in 2012. The Philippine military still uses helicopters from the Vietnam War and US warships from World War II. (Source Agerpres)

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