Malacañang on Sunday said the Philippines may soon see a “reboot” in its relationship with the United States following the first phone conversation between the leaders of the two countries.
In a phone call which lasted for over seven minutes, President Rodrigo Duterte said he established a “good rapport” with US President-elect Donald Trump, whom he said wished him success on the government’s war on drugs.
“The conversation between the President Duterte and President-elect Donald Trump went very well and it showed that there is a big possibility that we will have a reboot of relationship between the United States,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview on dzRH.
He added that many aspects of the Philippines’ relationship with the US are likely to get a reboot such as the military and economic aspects, people-to-people exchanges, and education among others.
Andanar also said he sees a good relationship forming between the two leaders since Trump expressed his support to Duterte’s war on drugs.
Duterte said Trump wished him “success” in his drug war and that he was encouraged when the real-estate mogul turned president said the US would be the “last to interfere” in the Philippines’ state affairs.
Andanar, however, declined to provide information on whether Duterte will visit the US after reportedly being invited by Trump.