Philippines to terminate troop agreement with US

Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr gestures during a senate hearing in Manila. The Philippines on Feb 11 notified the United States of its intent to terminate a major security pact allowing American forces to train in the country in the most serious threat to the countries’ treaty alliance under President Rodrigo Duterte. - AP

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told his foreign minister to give formal notice to the United States of his termination of a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between their militaries, his spokesman said on Tuesday (Feb 11).

Duterte, who has openly disapproved of the two countries' military alliance, made the decision after a close ally said his visa for the United States had been rescinded, in an issue related to the president's war on drugs.