President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the Philippines would not cut ties with its allies.

“We are not going to cut our umbilical cord with the countries that we are allied now,” Duterte in a speech at the 48th anniversary of the 250th Philippine Airlift Wing.

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Duterte’s assurance came after he said the country would pursue an “independent foreign policy.”

“I hope the country also—the economic side of the country will go full blast and we can trade with all but I said, we are not cutting with our alliances, military as well, but certainly, we will follow an independent posture, an independent foreign policy,” he said.

READ: Duterte: Gov’t to pursue ‘independent foreign policy’

Duterte earlier launched tirades against the Unites States, even saying that he wanted American troops to leave Mindanao.

But the President said he was not anti-American.

“I am not anti-American. We are not severing our ties, military ties. Nandiyan iyan eh. Who am I to abrogate the treaty? What I am just saying is, we will just follow an independent—kung gusto natin magbili dito, kung libre dito, bakit hindi natin kunin?” he said.

The chief executive said we should be friends with everyone.

“As I said earlier, I am not cutting ties with anybody. But as suggested by your commanders, which I also believe in, that we should be everybody’s friend,” he said. TVJ

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