Duterte gets Trump White House invite during ‘animated’ call

MANILA/WASHINGTON - US President-elect Donald Trump welcomed Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte to the White House one year from now amid an "very engaging, animated" telephone discussion, a Duterte aide said on Friday, in the midst of rough relations between their two nations.

Trump's brief chat with the firebrand Philippine president follows a period of uncertainty about one of Washington's most important Asian alliances, stoked by Duterte's hostility towards President Barack Obama and repeated threats to sever decades-old defense ties.

The call lasted just over seven minutes, Duterte's special advisor, Christopher Go, said in a text message to media, which gave few details. Trump's transition team had no immediate comment.

In five months in office, Duterte has upended Philippine foreign policy by berating the United States, making overtures towards historic rival China and pursuing a new alliance with Russia.

His diplomacy has created jitters among Asian countries wary about Beijing's rising influence and Washington's staying power as a regional counterbalance.

Duterte has praised China and told Obama to "go to hell" and called him a "son of a bitch" whom he would humiliate if he visited the Philippines.

The anger was unleashed after Democrat Obama expressed concern about possible human rights abuses in Duterte's war on drugs, during which more than 2,000 people have been killed.

Duterte initially expressed optimism about having Trump in the Oval Office, saying he no longer wanted quarrels. But he has continued to rail against US "hypocrisy" and "bullying".

Republican Trump, a New York businessman who has never previously held public office, told Reuters during the election campaign that Duterte's comments showed "a lack of respect for our country." But he also stressed the "very important strategic location" of the Philippines and blamed Obama for failing to take the time to get to know world leaders.