Philippines says Trump invited Duterte to White House
U.S. president called to affirm alliance, desire for 'warm working relationship,' Filipino official says
U.S. President Donald Trump has called Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte and expressed Washington's commitment to their treaty alliance and his interest in developing "a warm working relationship," a Filipino official said Sunday.
Duterte spokesman Ernie Abella said Trump mentioned he was looking forward to visiting the Philippines in November to attend an East Asia summit that Duterte will host with several world leaders and that Trump invited Duterte to visit the White House.
The discussion that transpired between the presidents was warm.- Ernie Abella, spokesman for Rodrigo Duterte
"The discussion that transpired between the presidents was warm, with President Trump expressing his understanding and appreciation of the challenges facing the Philippine president, especially on the matter of dangerous drugs," Abella said in a statement.
A White House statement described late Saturday's call as "very friendly" and said the U.S.-Philippine alliance "is now heading in a very positive direction."
White House spokesman urges friendlier ties
Trump's chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said the friendlier ties are needed despite concerns about Duterte's human rights record, which includes extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users as part of the government's drug war. Priebus cited the military threat of North Korea.
"The purpose of this call is all about North Korea," Priebus told ABC's This Week on Sunday. "It doesn't mean that human rights don't matter."
Duterte has taken a friendlier attitude with Trump compared to the antagonistic stance he had toward President Barack Obama, who he once told to "go to hell" for criticizing the Philippine leader's bloody anti-drug crackdown, which has left thousands of suspects dead in extrajudicial killings.
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During Obama's final months in office, the Philippine president moved to build closer economic ties with China and Russia while repeatedly threatening to end his nation's long-standing military alliance with the U.S.
Abella said without elaborating that concern over North Korea also came up in Trump's talk with Duterte.
North Korea main concern
Priebus indicated that the issue was Trump's primary concern, citing a North Korean threat "so serious" that it will require cooperation from Asian countries in the region. "So if something does happen in North Korea, ... we have everyone in line backing up a plan of action that may need to be put together with our partners in the area," he said.
Duterte suggested in a news conference Saturday that the Trump administration should back away from an intensifying standoff with North Korea, not in surrender but to avoid risking a nuclear holocaust that could smother Asia.
"It would be good for America to just restrain a little bit, and if I were President Trump, I'll just back out,' Duterte said.
Washington, he said, should not play into the provocations of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"It behooves upon America, who wields the biggest stick, just to really be prudent and patient. We know that we are playing with somebody who relishes letting go of his missiles and everything," Duterte said.
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