MANILA, Philippines—US sanctions could drive the last nail on the coffin of the Philippine Air Force’s planned acquisition of Russian heavy-lift helicopters.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been warming up to Moscow since taking office in 2016, announced last January that the Philippines was buying cargo helicopters from Russia.
Moscow has offered 16 units of Mil Mi-171 helicopters for P12.8 billion to the PAF.
The planned purchase, however, could run into conflict with the US’ Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which punishes countries with major deals with Russia’s defense sector.
CAATSA was enacted to punish Russia for meddling in US elections a…
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