Worlds Apart
-
Erik Jones, director of European and Eurasian studies at Johns Hopkins University on European unity in the Skripal case
-
‘We could have a nuclear war by accident’ Professor Gerhard Mangott of the University of Innsbruck analyses Moscow-EU relations
-
‘Fidel trusted me’: Jon Alpert, American filmmaker on Cuba documentary he filmed for 45 years
-
‘The US is disregarding its allies’ – Jarrett Blanc, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace on US pull-out from Iran deal
-
‘The Americans are parents, but we say: We’re off to college’ – The Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs
-
‘Who is going to take care of Jerusalem? Us or Hamas?’ An interview with Dore Gold, Israeli diplomat
-
‘The US trade policy is a mess’ - Brahma Chellaney from the Center for Policy Research
-
‘The US is using racket diplomacy to promote their interests’ – former French foreign trade minister
-
‘Italy is a perfect storm for populism in Europe’ - Paolo Magri, director of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies
-
‘You need Russia if you want peace in the Middle East’ – ex-Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel
-
British media personality Katie Hopkins on Putin, London’s mayor and multiculturalism
-
Propaganda exercise or attempt at democracy? – Vyatka State University assistant professor Samantha Lomb on Stalin’s constitution
-
‘Iran is the main destabiliser in the region’ – Israel’s ex-Deputy FM Daniel Ayalon
-
‘Migration is necessary’ – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
-
‘Sport is what brings people together’ – Russian hockey legend Viacheslav Fetisov
-
Columbia University Professor of Economics Arvind Panagariya on US trade war
-
‘Football connects people’ – Legendary Croatian footballer Davor Suker
-
‘Views about women’s rights are changing in Afghanistan’ – Afghan MP Fawzia Koofi
-
Internet of Things Council founder: Internet of the future, benefits and challenges
-
Meir Javedanfar: America abandoning the Iran deal was, ‘a wrong move’
-
'The United States is on the declining part of the life cycle curve" – Ichak Adizes, author and management consultant
‘The Americans are parents, but we say: We’re off to college’ – The Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In a new multipolar world, the Philippines is redefining its relations with the US, while strengthening ties with China and Russia. Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano joins Worlds Apart to explain how Manila is approaching Washington today.
“The Americans are parents, but we say: ‘We are off to college. Allow us to pick our own friends. The Chinese are our roommates, our close neighbours,’” as the diplomat compares the relationship with the US with that of parents and children.
However, if its interests diverge with those of the US or others, the Philippines “will not swallow hook, line and sinker.” “We live in a multipolar world, and the US and other world powers have to find its place in a new world order,” Cayetano adds. “President [Rodrigo] Duterte gave no illusions and during the campaign said this is how I’ll treat China, this is how I’ll treat the US, and I don’t want anyone to dictate upon the Filipino people.”
“In the past, we always said ‘whatever the West or the US says that’s right for us.’ We are now discovering what a real independent foreign policy is, what it is to have a mature friendship with the US, but telling them that we want a mature relationship with Russia, China and the rest of the world.”
Regarding relations with Russia, Cayetano says: “The more we discover each other, the more we find in common. We both have a very strong sense of identity and finding our place.” President Duterte, he says, is often compared to Vladimir Putin, as both have “political determination and political vision on what to do in the country.”
Watch the whole edition for more.