Trump Says He Does Not Mind If Philippines Cuts Military Pact With US

Trump Says He Does Not Mind If Philippines Cuts Military Pact With US
President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 27, 2018. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Reuters
Updated:

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he did not mind Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to end a decades-old military agreement with the United States, a position at odds with that of his defense secretary who viewed the move with dismay.

Duterte on Tuesday announced termination of the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the decision “unfortunate” as Washington and its allies press China to abide by “international rules” in Asia.