WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, released the following statement Friday after the Philippines informed the United States that they are suspending joint military exercises and naval patrols:
"Today's announcement is cause for great concern. The Philippines are one of our oldest allies in the region and joint military exercises and naval patrols are a lynchpin of that partnership. Indeed, our capacity building efforts are aimed to support a partnership of equals and give mutual benefit to both our nations. So I'm very disappointed that President Duterte is taking his country down this destructive path, including his campaign of extra-judicial killings. I urge him to reconsider this decision and its potentially far-reaching consequences.”
###