President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte bashed the US Friday for warning his country against purchasing Russian submarines.

He criticized the US for only providing hand-me-down weapons systems, arguing that if his country were to buy US submarines, they would probably "implode."

The Philippines is a US ally, but Duterte has been pursuing a foreign policy independent of the US, forging closer ties with rivals like China and Russia.

The leader of a close US ally is turning to rival Russia for submarines, arguing that if his country were to buy American submarines, they would probably "implode."

President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte lashed out Friday after the US warned the Philippines against purchasing Russian Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines. He accused the US of selling its ally only hand-me-down weapons that endanger the lives of Filipino troops, according to local outlet Rappler.

"Why did you not stop the other countries in Asia? Why are you stopping us? Who are you to warn us?" Duterte asked Friday at an event in his hometown of Davao."You give us submarines, it will implode." He asserted that the US sent his country "used" and "rusted" North Atlantic Treaty Organization helicopters, claiming the poor condition of the platforms led to the deaths of local forces.

"Is that the way you treat an ally and you want us to stay with you for all time?" he asked. "You want us to remain backwards. Vietnam has 7 submarines, Malaysia has 2, Indonesia has 8. We alone don't have one. You haven't given us any."

Duterte's latest outburst was triggered by a warning issued Thursday by Randall Schriver, the US Department of Defense Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.

"I think they should think very carefully about that," he said, referring to the Philippine government's interest in acquiring Russian submarines. "If they were to proceed with purchasing major Russian equipment, I don't think that's a helpful thing to do [in our] alliance, and I think ultimately we can be a better partner than the Russians can be."

"We have to understand the nature of this regime in Russia. I don't need to go through the full laundry list: Crimea, Ukraine, the chemical attack in the UK," he added, "So, you're investing not only in the platforms, but you're making a statement about a relationship."

An interest in Russian weapons systems has strained relations between the US and a number of allies and international partners in recent months. As Duterte pursues an independent foreign policy often out of alignment with US interests, the Philippines has increasingly looked to develop defense ties with Russia. The country is looking to Russia for submarines as it looks to modernize its military.

"For a nation with maritime territory specially island nation, its national defense is incomplete without (a) submarine," Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said earlier this year, according to the Philippine Star.