SINABI ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na nais niyang lumayas na sa Pilipinas ang lahat ng tropa ng militar mula sa ibang bansa sa loob ng dalawang taon.
“I have declared that I will pursue an independent foreign policy. I want, maybe in the next two years, my country freed of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will,” sabi ni Duterte sa kanyang Philippine Economic Forum sa Tokyo, Japan.
Idinagdag ni Duterte na huli na rin ang Balikatan na nakatakda sa pagitan ng Amerika at Pilipinas.
“I do not need the arms. I do not want missiles established in my country. I do not need to have the Air Force to host the bombers with hydrogen bombs. because if you really would want war for this planet and everybody is drawn into the vortex of violence—Iran, Pakistan, India, France, Britain, Russia, America, China,” sabi ni Duterte.
Kasabay nito, muling binalaan ni Duterte ang US sa harap ng natatanggap na pagbatikos.
“I kind of, you know, when you call my attention as a mayor, it’s okay. I do not carry the burden of sovereignty on my shoulders but if you chastise me, reprimand me before the international crowd, and you say, ‘Mr. Duterte, you stop the killings there,’ but they fully aware fo the problem of the 4 million Filipinos already sick and dying and the encounters between government and the drug people,” ayon pa kay Duterte.
Idinagdag ni Duterte na hindi rin siya nababahala sa tangkang pagpapatalsik sa kanya.
“If I lose my life, that is part of the territory of being President but I would never allow our dignity and honor to be just like a doormat before the international public. I will not allow it,” ayon pa kay Duterte.
Tahasang sinabi ni Duterte na makakaraos ang Pilipinas kahit wala ang tulong ng Amerika.
“So, I may have the feelings of some but that is how it is. We will survive without the assistance of America. Maybe a lesser quality of life but I said, we will survive and if there is one thing I would like to prove to America and to everybody, there is such a thing as the dignity of the Filipino people,” giit ni Duterte.