President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has just reminded us that his ego and mental instability have few limits.
As the Washington Examiner’s Joel Gehrke reports, Duterte’s defense minister reluctantly confirmed on Friday that the president has ordered him to cancel a U.S.-Philippine visiting forces agreement. That agreement provides legal protection and other benefits which allow U.S. military personnel to train Philippine forces on their own soil. Duterte’s decision follows the State Department’s refusal to provide a visa to a Philippine official believed responsible for human rights abuses.
Still, Duterte’s petulance here is predictable.
The president is both an extremely odd (to the point of possibly being mentally ill) individual and someone whose political identity rests on the unending presentation of his supreme self-importance.
But U.S. options with which to respond to Duterte’s decision are limited. Because as long as Duterte remains in power, it is clear that the United States will increasingly have to hedge on the historic Philippine alliance. Beyond the tantrums, Duterte has made increasing moves to earn Chinese favor, even though China has been seizing control over international waters, trade routes, and vast undersea energy reserves that are crucial to the Philippines’ economic and security future.
That Duterte is so willing to surrender his national interests to Beijing gives the U.S. great cause to question whether he will ever be a reliable ally in support of our two nations’ mutual defense treaty. Our reconsideration as to the worthiness of continued U.S. financial and military aid to the Philippines should thus follow.
Duterte departs office in June 2022. Until then, we should expect more stormy waters ahead.
