Duterte orders US forces out after 65 years: 'Do not treat us like a doormat'
The bombastic Duterte is locked in a war of words with the US and plans to halt joint military patrols.
The Philippines' bombastic President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a halt to his nation's 65-year military alliance with the United States. Duterte, who is locked in a bitter war of words with the US, has taken steps to suspend joint military patrols and ordered American troops to leave the country.
Duterte's defence minister, Delfin Lorenzana, said the 28 joint military exercises that the countries carry out each year under a 1951 defence treaty will be stopped, patrols with US navy vessels in the South China Sea, had ended and 107 American troops flying surveillance drones against Islamic extremists would leave as soon as Philippines soldiers were equipped to take over their duties.
Duterte, nicknamed 'The Punisher' or 'Duterte Harry', has previously told US President Barack Obama to "go to hell", and described him as the "son of a whore" following criticism for his war on drugs.
An ongoing US-Philippines amphibious beach landing exercise will be the last during his six-year tenure, Duterte announced.
"This year would be the last," Duterte said according to The Guardian on Friday (7 October) in the southern city of Davao. "For as long as I am there, do not treat us like a doormat because you'll be sorry for it. I will not speak with you. I can always go to China."