Philippine president threatens to "break up" with U.S.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he would "eventually" cut ties with the United States.

"I would be re-configuring my foreign policy," Duterte said in a speech before the Jewish Association of the Philippines in Metro Manila's Makati City.

He added, "Eventually in my time I would break up with America. I would rather go to Russia or to China."

The president also said over the weekend that he would review the existing security arrangements with the United States, including the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014.

The 10-year EDCA allows an increased presence of U.S. forces, ships, aircraft and equipment in the Philippines and greater access to Philippine military bases. Under the new defense accord, U.S. military personnel in the Philippines are to be deployed on a rotational basis.

U.S. and Philippine marines and sailors kicked off on Tuesday this year's joint military exercises codenamed PHIBLEX 33 in the Philippines' main Luzon island and Palawan.

But Duterte said this year's PHIBLEX, which wraps up on Oct. 12, will be the last joint war games that will take place during his term which ends in June 2022.

Earlier, Duterte called for the expulsion of about 100 U.S. Special Forces posted in Zamboanga City on Mindanao, who were tasked to help the Philippine military fight against terrorism.

He also said he was not going to allow the Philippine military to participate in joint patrols with the U.S. military. Enditem