Philippines terminates contract on purchasing Mi-17 helicopters from Russia

The Philippines is terminating the contract for the purchase of 16 Mi-17 helicopters from Russia and is preparing to "start a dialogue" with Moscow in this regard, the Philippine Department of National Defense Public Affairs Chief Arsenio Andolong said, Report informs via TASS.

"The Department of National Defense is formalizing the termination of the contract with Sovtechnoexport LLC of the Russian Federation on the supply of 16 Mi-17 helicopters for the Philippine Air Force," the department said in a statement.

"We are preparing to start a diplomatic dialogue with the Russian side on issues related to the cancellation of the project," Arsenio Andolong added.

The Philippine News Agency quotes Andolong that "the cancellation of the project by the previous administration" was caused by "changes in priorities caused by global political events."

At the end of July, the Former Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, Delfin Lorenzana, said that the country's government decided to refuse to buy Russian helicopters, fearing sanctions from the United States.