The Philippines should consider Russia as a supplier of good, very reliable fighter jets (Su-27 and Su-30), missiles (S-300) and in the long run, submarines (Kilo class) just like what Vietnam and India are doing. but that would be a tough proposition because of expected protests from China. Expect China to pressure Russia not to sell or pressure President Duterte not to buy.
Golez: The headline: "Duterte off to Russia in blow to US."
My humble opinion: Russia is not that critical in the balance of power in the Asia Pacific region because of the reduced forces in its Eastern Military District concentrated in the Vladivostok area. Its Pacific Fleet is not big, led by a cruiser and a few destroyers and a sizable submarine force obviously as a threat to America's West Coast area.
Its Pacific Air Force can hardly project its power in the South China Sea where the Philippines plays a strategic role. I do not see Russia as having the ambition to strengthen its geo-security the presence in the Western Pacific Region because of its other strategic priorities in Eurasia and because of economic constraints. It is not anymore an economic power. Russia's concentration is in Eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East especially Syria.
Russia is potentially important in the region as an arms supplier. It is already a major supplier of weapons for Vietnam and India, both strategic adversaries of China. China also buys a lot of weapons from Russia; the latest are the Su-35 flankers. The Philippines should consider Russia as a supplier of good, very reliable fighter jets (Su-27 and Su-30), missiles (S-300) and in the long run, submarines (Kilo class) just like what Vietnam and India are doing. but that would be a tough proposition because of expected protests from China. Expect China to pressure Russia not to sell or pressure President Duterte not to buy.
Golez: The headline: "Duterte off to Russia in blow to US."
My humble opinion: Russia is not that critical in the balance of power in the Asia Pacific region because of the reduced forces in its Eastern Military District concentrated in the Vladivostok area. Its Pacific Fleet is not big, led by a cruiser and a few destroyers and a sizable submarine force obviously as a threat to America's West Coast area.
Its Pacific Air Force can hardly project its power in the South China Sea where the Philippines plays a strategic role. I do not see Russia as having the ambition to strengthen its geo-security the presence in the Western Pacific Region because of its other strategic priorities in Eurasia and because of economic constraints. It is not anymore an economic power. Russia's concentration is in Eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East especially Syria.
Russia is potentially important in the region as an arms supplier. It is already a major supplier of weapons for Vietnam and India, both strategic adversaries of China. China also buys a lot of weapons from Russia; the latest are the Su-35 flankers. The Philippines should consider Russia as a supplier of good, very reliable fighter jets (Su-27 and Su-30), missiles (S-300) and in the long run, submarines (Kilo class) just like what Vietnam and India are doing. but that would be a tough proposition because of expected protests from China. Expect China to pressure Russia not to sell or pressure President Duterte not to buy.
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