The awkward moment Barack Obama finally met Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte

Officials are keen to maintain the relationship between the two countries is strong

Obama glances over at Duterte during the Asean summit

(EPA/Ritchie B Tongo)

Barack Obama has met the firebrand president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, after he called the US President a ‘son of a whore’.

The leaders saw each other briefly, albeit informally, in a back room before attending a dinner at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Laos.

They later posed together for photos in the same line-up, although organisers seemingly took the healthy precaution of keeping them some distance apart.

Mr Duterte had insulted Mr Obama in response to the possibility of the US president questioning him on the on-going drug war in the Philippines, the death toll of which has now exceeded 2,000 people.

A formal meeting between the leaders was cancelled after the spat, though Mr Duterte later expressed regret for his comments.

But on Thursday, Philippine foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay told The Associated Press that the leaders had met.

“They met at the holding room and they were the last persons to leave the holding room,” said Mr Yasay.

“I can't say how long they met. It all springs from the fact the relationship between the Philippines and the United States is firm, very strong. The basis for this relationship is historical and both leaders realise this. And I’m very happy that it happened.”

According to a White House official, Mr Obama had a brief discussion with Mr Duterte before the Asean Gala Dinner in the leaders’ holding space. He said the exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two. However, the two leaders entered the dinner venue separately, were seated far apart and did not interact with each other during the meal that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.

The incident has soured relations between the two nations, at a time when their strong partnership is critical for regional stability. The Philippine government is concerned about Chinese activity in the South China Sea and, in the same week as the diplomatic row, released intelligence photos purporting to show Chinese coast guard vessels in the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

It has fuelled fears of more aggressive Chinese expansion in the region – a key concern of the Philippines – and could test the so-called “ironclad” alliance of the US to the Philippines, a vital regional ally.

But analysts believe the relationship is healthy, despite the superficial grievances.

“Mr Duterte has not given any signals that he sees abandoning or substantially weakening the alliance with the United States as a way to reach a better deal with China, nor should he,” Amy Searight, director of the Southeast Asia programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, told the AP.

“You don’t approach a country like China from a position of weakness, you approach them from a position of strength.”