US army chief affirms military alliance with Thailand after passing coronavirus test
- Thailand is Washington’s oldest ally in Asia but relations were strained by a 2014 military coup led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, now prime minister
- The US scaled back some military exchanges with Thailand, and Bangkok responded by forging a closer ties with China
US Army chief of staff General James McConville met with Thailand’s prime minister and its army chief on Friday, in the first high-level visit by a foreign delegation to Thailand since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international travel.
McConville met with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and also Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong and signed a Strategic Vision Statement, a US Embassy statement said, as Washington looks to reassure allies about its commitment to the region.
The text of the statement was not released, but the embassy said McConville and Apirat “discussed modernisation, interoperability, joint training, and doctrine”.
Thailand is Washington’s oldest ally in Asia but relations were strained by a 2014 military coup led by then-army chief Prayuth that ousted an elected civilian government.
The US scaled back some military exchanges with Thailand, and Bangkok responded by forging a closer ties with China. But ties improved after last year’s general election that officially restored civilian rule while keeping Prayuth on as a civilian leader, resulting in arms deal for US-made armoured personnel carriers and light attack helicopters last year.
Prayuth on Friday also acknowledged US$2 million in US aid to help Thailand to cope with the coronavirus, according to a news release from his office.
