Russian guided-missile cruiser Varyag, along with fuel tanker ship Pechange, have arrived in the Philippines for a four-day goodwill visit, reports the the US Navy Times. The port call comes less than three months since the last visit from Russian warships.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has described his administration’s diplomatic shift as a pursuit of a constitutionally mandated “independent foreign policy.” The sharp pivot has been characterized by Duterte’s harsh criticism of the US and support of China and Russia.