Why Rodrigo Duterte Declared Martial Law In Southern Philippines
Why Rodrigo Duterte Declared Martial Law In Southern Philippines
Violence has erupted in the Muslim-majority city Marawi, as the Philippine military tries to regain control from ISIS-allied militants there. President Rodrigo Duterte declared a 60-day period of martial law in the southern Philippines, and said he may even expand it nationwide.
Last week, The Intercept published an article alleging it obtained a full transcript of American President Donald Trump’s call with Duterte. The online publication claims Trump “enthusiastically endorsed Duterte’s murderous drug war”, and repeatedly discussed the possibility of a U.S. nuclear strike on North Korea.
We discuss the current political climate in the Philippines and U.S. relations with Alfred McCoy, a history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He’s author of the book, In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power.