The President of the Philippines is ready to open the country's facilities to US troops in accordance with the 1951 mutual defense treaty if the US becomes embroiled in a war with Russia, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, AP reported.

According to him, President Rodrigo Duterte made this statement at a recent meeting in Manila, where the president also expressed concern about the global economic consequences of the unfolding crisis. The Philippines condemned the crisis and voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.

“He says if they’re asking for the support of the Philippines, it’s very clear that, of course, if push comes to shove, the Philippines will be ready to be part of the effort, especially if this Ukrainian crisis spills over to the Asian region,” Romualdez said in an online briefing with Manila-based journalists. “Give them the assurance that if ever needed, the Philippines is ready to offer whatever facilities or whatever things that the United States will need being a major — our number one ally.”

Duterte did not specify in his speech which Filipino facilities would be accessed by US troops, but Romualdes said they could include the vast freeports of Clark and Subic Bay northwest of Manila, which used to be one of the largest US air and military bases. naval bases outside the US mainland until US troops abandoned them in the early 1990s.