Philippines–Soviet Union relations refers to the former bilateral ties between the Republic of the Philippines and the now-defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries were hindered by mutual distrust between them, with the Philippines being a key ally of the United States, the Soviet Union's main rival in the Cold War. Anti-communist sentiment among many Filipinos was also an obstacle. Overview Since 1967, the Philippines had become more active in improving ties with Eastern Bloc countries. Even as the Philippines began to soften its ties with the Soviet Union and its allies, it remained cautious and suspicious toward the Soviet Union approaching the union with a "backwards-forward" style of diplomacy. The Philippines was wary of the Soviet Union because of ideological differences and past links to underground movements. The Soviet Union also mistrusted the Philippines because of its strong ties with the United States. Any development that would lead towards the erosion of the ties between the Philippines and the United States was welcomed by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union itself admitted that those developments would be limited. History It was 20 years after the formation of the Soviet Union before the Philippines consider establishing ties between the two countries. Salvador P. Lopez proposed a review of relations with the Soviet Union and its allies, reduced dependence on the United States and an Asian policy that would take into account China's emergence as a power of Asia. The administration of Diosdado Macapagal rejected these proposals. During the presidency of Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos, relations between the Philippines and the Soviet Union reached their peak. In a Foreign Policy statement released in January 1967, Marcos acknowledged the need to pursue the establishment of Philippine ties with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China more vigorously. Also in the same month, Foreign Affairs secretary Narciso Ramos spoke of possible relaxation on the ban against trading with socialist states. As part of Marcos' foreign policy, the Philippines sent missions to the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, East Germany and Bulgaria. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 2, 1976. Economic ties The Soviet Union composed of one to two per cent of the Philippines' total trade. The two states granted each other most favoured nation status on customs duties, internal taxes and the issuance of import and export