Russian-Philippine relations: Moscow’s perspective

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976, Russian-Philippine friendship has gone through a test of endurance, including changes in the domestic and international political and economic spheres following the collapse of the USSR. 

Amid the ongoing global transformation associated with the changing balance of power in the international arena, primarily due to the increasing role of the Global South and Eastern countries, the Philippines remains an important and promising partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. 

We believe that realizing the significant potential of our bilateral cooperation lies in the context of a multipolar world order, to which Russia and the Philippines, as an influential member of ASEAN, are making their tangible contributions. The convergence or proximity of the two countries’ approaches to the key challenges of our times, their adherence to international law, first and foremost to the principle of the sovereign equality of states, and their recognition of cultural and civilizational diversity and traditional values form the basis for bilateral cooperation.

Throughout their history, Russian-Philippine relations have been an example of mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual respect. As early as 1817, the first Russian consulate was opened in Manila on the initiative of Peter Dobel, subject of the Russian Empire, with the aim of expanding trade. Throughout the 21st century, the Filipinos welcomed Russian travellers and sailors, including Vasily Golovnin, Fiodor Litke, Nikolay Miklukho-Maklaiand Ivan Goncharov, who were keen to study the traditions, culture and customs of the locals and then introduced “Perlas ng Silangan” to the Russian public. At the height of the Russo-Japanese War, Manila became a refuge for the Russian cruiser “Aurora” and its crew, who had been badly injured in the Battle of Tsushima.

The stay of almost 6,000 Russian refugees from China on the archipelago in 1949-1951 is a little-known chapter in the history of the two countries. Tubabao Island became their home for several years. Local people have kept memories of the stay of “White Russians,” as they used to call them, including Archbishop John of Shanghai (declared a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church).

In the second half of the twentieth century, cooperation between our countries took a new turn. In 1975, the USSR was visited by A. Melchor Jr., Executive Secretary of the President of the Philippines. This was the starting point for the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 2, 1976. It is noteworthy that this landmark political decision was taken by the father of the current President of the country, Ferdinand Marcos. Even back then, the Philippine leadership acknowledged that differences in socio-political systems were not an obstacle to successful and effective cooperation. The two countries signed their first trade agreement, which gave a new impetus to economic ties, cultural cooperation, tourism and scientific exchanges. Such an independent approach to bilateral relations, where mutual interests come to the fore, is still very much in demand today.

Regrettably, nowadays some countries are striving hard to maintain global geopolitical dominance through the so-called “rules-based order” and artificially “cancel” those parts of the world that do not support such a unipolar vision. Attempts are being made to isolate Russia, punish it for its sovereign political decisions aimed at ensuring its own security, and blame it for all the problems of the world.

We therefore appreciate the constructive attitude of the present administration, headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which demonstrates the continuity of the policy of maintaining friendly relations with our country.

Russian and Philippine lawmakers fruitfully cooperate at international parliamentary forums. In November 2023, the leaders of the two countries’ parliaments met on the sidelines of the 31st session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila. Parliamentary friendship groups operate within the legislative bodies of both countries.

Trade and economic cooperation is of great importance, although it faces serious challenges, mainly related to the illegal economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and its allies, which is hampering bank settlements and disrupting supply chains.

However, as practice shows, obstacles in trade and economic relations are surmountable. On October 4-5, 2023, the 3rd meeting of the Russia-Philippines Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was successfully held in Manila. We consider transport, space, information and communication technologies, etc. to be promising areas. As of 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached US$633.4 million. It is worth recalling that earlier our countries had joined efforts in the fight against Covid-19, during the difficult period of the pandemic. In 2021, 20 million doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V were delivered to the Philippines under a signed contract.

Russian companies are interested in establishing cooperation with Philippine partners in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, including its non-energy applications.

Agricultural cooperation is intensifying. Since 2021, the office of the agricultural attaché has been functioning within the Russian Embassy in the Philippines. In June 2023, a Russian delegation headed by Sergey Levin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, visited Manila as part of a business mission of Russian companies exporting agricultural products.

The establishment of direct flights between Russia and the Philippines would have a positive impact on the development of mutual business and tourist exchanges. This is evidenced by the existing direct flights to Southeast Asian nations, i.e. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The conditions are in place for the Philippines to engage with the Eurasian Economic Union, a single market of 180 million consumers.

Recent years have seen an active development of interregional contacts. The city of Cebu maintains twinning relations with Vladimir, in 2022 an agreement on cooperation with Vladivostok was signed. In 2024 the province of Cebu concluded an agreement on cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, and the humanitarian area with St. Petersburg. Moscow has cooperation programs in place with Manila and Cebu.

The rich cultural heritage of the two countries provides a basis for expanding humanitarian exchanges, including increasing cooperation in the fields of education and tourism.

Russian universities that hold leading positions in the world rankings offer Filipino students training, including free of charge, in such areas as Information Systems and Technologies, Applied Computer Science, Nuclear Energy, Medicine, Linguistics, etc.

Russian audiences have repeatedly had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Philippine ballet thanks to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, founder and CEO of Ballet Manila, who is a graduate of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In turn, in 2023, as part of the Days of Moscow in Manila, the Filipino audience warmly welcomed a gala concert by artists of the Moscow State Academic Dance Theatre Gzhel at the Aliw Theatre.

Friendly visits by Russian ships of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet to Philippine harbors contribute to maintaining defense contacts. From 2021 to 2024, six such visits have been organized. Philippine officials annually participate in international meetings of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters held by the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

The importance of the Asia-Pacific region cannot be overestimated. We note with regret that the security and cooperation architecture, created around ASEAN over recent decades, is under threat. Under the slogan of a “free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the United States and their allies are pursuing a confrontational course aimed at “bloc containment.” The Euro-Atlanticists deliberately heat up the situation around Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula, aggravate territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and use heightened tensions in the region to pump it up with arms, including strategic weapons. 

Russia opposes the militarization of the region and the “creeping expansion” of NATO into Southeast Asia. Such narrow-bloc organizations as the Indo-Pacific Four (Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand), the AUKUS military alliance with a nuclear component (the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia) are fully involved in this scenario. We note attempts to pull other ASEAN countries into similar narrow-bloc entities, with the aim of forming new “trios” and “quartets.”

We are convinced that the future of the Asia-Pacific region can be based only on a constructive agenda, the main items of which include maintaining peace and stability, developing mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation, and creating a regional architecture on a collective basis that would ensure equal and indivisible security for all.

In cooperating with its regional partners, Russia is guided by long-term national interests and contemporary realities. To this end, we are actively using the potential of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership and the opportunities of our participation in the EAS and ARF, the SCO, BRICS, APEC and other multilateral organizations and forums.

Moscow highly appreciates that the current Philippine leadership, in a difficult geopolitical situation, adheres to a balanced, pragmatic line in international affairs and strives to develop pragmatic relations with Russia.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Russian-Philippine cooperation has great potential for further successful development and translation into mutually beneficial projects. Together we can make a significant contribution to overcoming global challenges and ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rudenko Andrey Yurevich was born in Moscow in 1962.

1985: Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (now MGIMO University).

Diplomatic rank: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary since October 2020.

1985: Joined the diplomatic service and held various posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the ministry’s missions abroad.

2011-2016: Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE, Austria.

March 2016: Director of the Second CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Department of the Ministry, member of the Foreign Ministry Collegium.

September 2019—present: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He is fluent in English and Chinese.