Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte seems relieved after Donald Trump won the United States Presidential election. While congratulating the Republican leader, he said Trump and him both share some common views. However, Duterte did not comment on how the new US government will affect bilateral relations between the two countries.
Rather than saying how the new US leadership will impact ties between the two countries, Duterte was keen on highlighting his similarities with the American counterpart by saying that both of them have won against the odds.
"I would like to congratulate Mr Donald Trump. Long live," said Duterte, who is often dubbed as the "Trump of the East".
Dutertre's relations with America took a turn for the worse in recent times after the war of words that followed his brutal crackdown of drug users in Philippines.
The United States, the European Union parliament and the United Nations have condemned his drug war by calling it extrajudicial killings following which Duterte said he was ready to cut ties with the US and stop being dependent on the long-term ally for the defence needs. He also said the US can "go the hell" and that Philippines would stop the joint patrols of the South China Sea with the US and he said he would import arms from Russia and China.
Duterte's clash with Obama
The Philippines President also cast aspersions on President Obama, using expletives to express his frustration over constantly being told by the Big Brother on how he should run his country. "Who is he to confront me? As a matter of fact, America has one too many to answer for. Everybody has a terrible record of extrajudicial killings," he said when his meeting with Obama was cancelled.
However, it seems that Duterte has a new hope of mending his ties with the US after Trump takes over the White House. "We are both making curses. Even with trivial matters we curse. I was supposed to stop because Trump is there. I don't want to quarrel any more, because Trump has won," he said.
Dutrete reached Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and he is expected to meet Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday to discuss regional security and terrorism concerns.
