MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia has no military base in Southeast Asia, but the Russian Navy's ships have been increasingly active in the region, since they can enter the ports of the region's countries. However, a number of the Southeast Asian countries are the US allies. In late June, Ambassador of the Philippines in Moscow Carlos Sorreta told Sputnik that Russian warships were welcome to enter the Philippine territorial waters, but there had been no discussions of hosting Russian troops at the country's bases.
"No, in my opinion, this — deployment of a military base — cannot happen," Supriyadi said, explaining that it run counter the country's constitution.
The ambassador added that Indonesia was seeking to maintain a partnership with all countries as well as intensify military cooperation with other nations in the region, especially given the increased terrorist threats.
"We are concerned with the existing situation and fear that after the defeat of [government] forces in the Middle East countries a part of militants will decide to relocate to our region. As a result, something, like what had happened in the Philippine city of Marawi, may happen," Supriyadi explained.
According to the senior diplomat, the Indonesian authorities were currently cooperating closely with Malaysia and the Philippines in order to ensure that a similar situation would not happen again in Southeast Asia.
In May, the Maute jihadist group, which is affiliated with the Daesh terrorist group (outlawed in Russia), attempted to storm the Philippine city of Marawi on the Mindanao island. The clashes have already led to the deaths of 100 people. On July 22, Philippine lawmakers approved an extension of martial law in the southern Mindanao region until December 31, 2017.
On Wednesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called on the country's lawmakers to support budgetary funding for an additional 20,000 soldiers in order to combat the terrorist threat posed by Daesh.
