U.S. Army chief of staff signs 'strategic vision' pact with Thailand

 

U.S. Army Chief of Staff General James C. McConville and Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, wearing face masks, speak during their meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, July 10, 2020. Thailand Government House/Handout via REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - U.S. 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 U.S. 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".

 

The United States has sought to counter China's influence in Southeast Asia, most recently by sending two aircraft carriers to the South China Sea while the Chinese military conducted drills near islands that are also claimed by Vietnam.

 

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 United States 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 U.S.-made armored personnel carriers and light attack helicopters last year.

 

Prayuth on Friday also acknowledged $2 million in U.S. aid to help Thailand to cope with the coronavirus, according to a news release from his office.

 

The U.S. delegation visited under a special arrangement to follow strict coronavirus safety measures that required members to wear face masks.

 

Thailand has gone six weeks without confirmed community transmission of coronavirus, while the United States marked a new daily record of more than 60,000 new cases on Thursday.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-10

 

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meaningless. 

42 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

meaningless. 

A precise summation.

1 minute ago, PJPom said:

A precise summation.

Thank you, it took me a long time and much deep consideration to come up with it. ????

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayuth on Friday also acknowledged $2 million in U.S. aid to help Thailand to cope with the coronavirus, according to a news release from his office.

Why do they need aid  with so few deaths (58) and no cases for 6 weeks.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

resulting in arms deal for U.S.-made armored personnel carriers and light attack helicopters last year.

Disgusting, money for  weapons  but excepts handouts for  WuFlu !!!

New hub methinks! 

 

Please welcome the hub of playing both sides TAT announcement pending...

Be careful what you sign sua-tao.

   Mac is from Conville.

Prayut is sitting there in the photo thinking to himself, "Ya, but just wait until we get our new Chinese submarines and Navy boats and all kinds of other Chinese military stuff....  We know who our Daddy is..."

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The United States scaled back some military exchanges with Thailand, and Bangkok responded by forging a closer ties with China.

too little too late...China is their primary choice, ancestral blood ties (blood is thicker then water 555)

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayuth on Friday also acknowledged $2 million in U.S. aid to help Thailand to cope with the coronavirus, according to a news release from his office.

as soon Xi will see that he will counter with double or triple....

4 hours ago, webfact said:

McConville met with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and also Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong and signed a Strategic Vision Statement, a U.S. 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".

'The text of the statement was not released'  That means we have no information about what they've agreed to.

As Pilotman said above: 'meaningless'

This photo was from a General to a General, face-to-face meeting. 

The photo showed all about Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha  attitude towards this US Army Chief visit. 

 

Body language in display between these two gents should be at least on par to 2001 photo between

a USA General and a Pakistan General meeting showcasing full of mutual respect of each other.   

This photo had none of that.    It demonstrated the deep drop in US global influence after 19 years.    

Complainers, Ask yourselves what political and or military assistance  is your home country offering Thailand.  What are they offering the rest of S E Asia (and the rest of the world).  Help is being offered and alliances continue to be fostered  even with the present isolationist U S administration.

14 hours ago, sscc said:

This photo was from a General to a General, face-to-face meeting. 

The photo showed all about Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha  attitude towards this US Army Chief visit. 

 

Body language in display between these two gents should be at least on par to 2001 photo between

a USA General and a Pakistan General meeting showcasing full of mutual respect of each other.   

This photo had none of that.    It demonstrated the deep drop in US global influence after 19 years.    

Have they updated the texts on body language as I can see no problem seeing that are trying to show social distancing for the plebs.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. Army chief of staff signs 'strategic vision' pact with Thailand

We sell you lots of expensive toys that you don't really need.

2 hours ago, american2 said:

Complainers, Ask yourselves what political and or military assistance  is your home country offering Thailand.  What are they offering the rest of S E Asia (and the rest of the world).  Help is being offered and alliances continue to be fostered  even with the present isolationist U S administration.

I especially like the bit where China is offering all this assistance in exchange for 99 year leases and onerous loan schemes that will allow them to nationalise important infrastructure while their vassals -- sorry, allies -- pay for it.

Somehow I'm sure this will also be the USA's fault ????

23 hours ago, Pilotman said:

meaningless. 

No, Meaningless photo op

21 hours ago, Mavideol said:

as soon Xi will see that he will counter with double or triple....

Yes, bringing a large bundle of brown envelopes with him!!!