Arms deals with Russia in pipeline as West shuns Thai govt

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NATION ANALYSIS
Arms deals with Russia in pipeline as West shuns junta
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's insistence that the government's renewed relationship with Russia is not meant to counterbalance deteriorating relations with the United States, a top Russian minister said Moscow had high hopes for future arms deals with the junta now that Thailand's relations with the West had cooled.

Russian Commerce Minister Denis Manturov, a key member of the Russian delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Thailand last week, said deals were also in the pipeline on rail services, military aircraft, and the sale of three Sukhoi Superjet transport planes to Thailand, with the shipment expected late next year.

Russia is reportedly planning to buy at least 80,000 tonnes of rubber from Thailand early next year, four times what it had already agreed to buy, in a government-to-government deal that would benefit Russia's automotive-tyre industry.

India and China are also increasing cooperation with Thailand in military training and logistical supports, as a result of the junta's foreign-policy shift. The intelligence services of Thailand and Russia will also collaborate to suppress international crimes and narcotics.

"All this should not be deemed as a policy shift by the junta aimed at counterbalancing the United States. Thailand's long-standing diplomatic stance has never been based on picking sides," the source said.

A Thai military expert said Thailand wanted to buy battle tanks from Russia, and Russia wanted to buy food from Thailand.

Russia is expanding its aircraft and military-hardware industries to other regions as its economy has been affected by a drop in the ruble's value due to sanctions by the European Union. This provided Russia with an appropriate opportunity to court Thailand, which is being pressured by the US and EU after the military coup last May.

Military inventory revamped

A source said the coming deployment of Russian-made weaponry should be regarded as a complete replacement of the US-made weapons in the current military inventory, as Thailand purchased a number of Russian-made weapons, including existing air-defence systems as well as a number of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.

Russia will surely be a high-profile exhibitor at an arms exhibition to be held by the Defence Ministry in Thailand in November.

The surprise renewal of Thai-Russian relations, for the first time in 25 years, has signalled an interesting sign in the junta's foreign policy, including a visit to China on last week by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan at the invitation of the Chinese military.

Through the Sino-Thai Defence and Security Consultation, the Chinese military has proposed a joint Thai-Chinese marine and air force military exercise, which Thailand is contemplating.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Arms-deals-with-Russia-in-pipeline-as-West-shuns-j-30258142.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-17

[zydeco]

Another topic in TV declares that the Thai economy is coming to a full stop. Maybe now is not the time to be buying new tanks and submarines from anyone.

[NongKhaiKid]

Another topic in TV declares that the Thai economy is coming to a full stop. Maybe now is not the time to be buying new tanks and submarines from anyone.

That would be too much like commonsense. The military likes its new toys at the best of times and with a military junta running the country ... !

[BSJ]

That is good news! Those old ancient army tanks they have on order from the Ukraine at the moment must be getting harder and harder to maintain! Much better to buy the new Russian models.

[ferguston]

Will the Thai Baht start to be pegged against the Russian Rouble ?

Now that would be good news !

[baboon]

Another topic in TV declares that the Thai economy is coming to a full stop. Maybe now is not the time to be buying new tanks and submarines from anyone.

Especially considering the only use they will have for their new hardware will be to kill their own people, I'm sure they have more than enough for that now...

[Strangebrew]

Russia dose have a good rifle the AK47 But those RPG's are Crap Now want weapons stinger is easy to operate even a Thai could learn how to fire it. bAs far as fighters You first need pilots who can fly good.

[Chris Lawrence]

Another topic in TV declares that the Thai economy is coming to a full stop. Maybe now is not the time to be buying new tanks and submarines from anyone.

That would be too much like commonsense. The military likes its new toys at the best of times and with a military junta running the country ... !

..........but Thailand and its military have a reputation for just buying the box and no movable parts. What other countries are buying from Russia, China and India? Hope the rubber they get is of same quality. I know they have a lot of rice at the moment?

It’s a hole that is being dug and it’s a work in progress.

The other day it was how pleased the Thai's were with a new US ambassador? It’s a schizophrenic government; confirmed by the press releases at the moment?

[Lupatria]

In a worst case scenario they have a Russian atomic power submarine on their wish list to protect their worthless non-aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Thailand with an average depth of 58 m or 119 feet.

[nzthai]

Hope Thailand is not being fooled into hanging around with a bad crowd instead of taking faster steps to install democracy...it's not a good look for Thailand

[kalbz]

Considering i'm anti-feminist, i would have felt it an insult to have had a woman US Ambassador to Thailand for the past 5 years. I guess it's a bit late to make amends by bringing in a new guy. The boys here are going elsewhere for their guns.

[mike324]

Don't see why Thailand can't modernize its military, at least the money is well spent compare to what the education ministry does with its budget.

[selftaopath]

I wonder if this will urge America to stop giving "FREE MONEY" - and lots of it - to Thailand each and every year?

[Felipesed]

I wonder if this will urge America to stop giving "FREE MONEY" - and lots of it - to Thailand each and every year?

Can you please document the amounts, and purpose, of this "free money" given by the USA over the last 5 years?

[Robby nz]

Interesting who buys and sell military hardware in the world :

Source : http://rt.com/business/241005-russia-second-arms-exporter/

I also note that as well as a buyer Australia also exports weapons, comes in No 20 on the list of exporters......Boomerangs ?

[selftaopath]

I wonder if this will urge America to stop giving "FREE MONEY" - and lots of it - to Thailand each and every year?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+much+money+does+America+give+Thailand+annually

[lucky11]

Hope Thailand is not being fooled into hanging around with a bad crowd instead of taking faster steps to install democracy...it's not a good look for Thailand

Who say's that they are hanging around with a bad crowd - it seems to me they are abandoning a war feverish country for people that understand politics and situations, cos the Yanks certainly don't regards Thailand!!

[Srikcir]

This arms deal raises some questions about the government's source of funds. Unless the Junta anticipated arms purchases from Russia in September 2014 when it submitted the government budget to the NLA, the puchase would be OFF BUDGET.

One can reasonably suspect that there was no budget for Russian arms purchases in the lack of any public disclosure of a budget. It was only later in 2014 after Ambassador Kenney's departure and after US Assistant Secretary of State Wilson's criticisms of the Junta in November 2014 that the Junta seemed to dramatically shift its military alliances towards the Russians and Chinese. It would appear then that the Junta will purchase stockpiled rubber using unbudgeted government funds from a Treasury that is already burdened by low tax collections, low value exports and fossil fuels, Junta cash handouts, Junta farmer subsidies, and some Junta minimal domestic investments in Thailand's infrastructure.

It would seem the Junta has placed its own needs for an arms buildup ahead of an economic recovery. Why? There is no immediate national security threat to Thailand from its neighbors, nor beyond within the Asian-Pacific theater. There is no arms race in the region other than distant North Korea. In fact several democratic nations such as Japan, South Korea, and India have indicated trade support with the Junta. So why the needs for "guns over butter?"

If there ever was a need for reform, it would be to keep the military on a short budget tether. But as the elected Thai governments found, the domestic threat of the military to Thailand is always present. How ironic that the Royal Thai Military swears to defend Thai sovereignty by taking that soverneignty for itself.

[Felipesed]

I wonder if this will urge America to stop giving "FREE MONEY" - and lots of it - to Thailand each and every year?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+much+money+does+America+give+Thailand+annually

I presume you meant this link, https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32593.pdf.

The last year for which figures are available is 2012, when just over 5 million dollars was given as Development Aid. The other amounts would all be of mutual benefit to the USA.

Do you really think that 5 million is an important figure?

Michael Bloomberg spends more than that each year spreading lies about gun owners in the US, and bankrolling anti-gun candidates in State elections.

If you read the whole report, the general tone is that Thailand is of great strategic importance to the US, so I think it unlikely that the US will want to shun Thailand, at least behind the scenes.

Thailand has has some experience in playing countries off against each other. This might be what is happening now.

[umbanda]

I think these deals may makes sense, because the US is trying very hard to control Myanmar future, and probably will sell military equipment to its Government. If that happens, Thailand may be in a not good position, if not strong enough, in case of a West-East military confrontation.

The Cold War is on....again.

[JAG]

I think these deals may makes sense, because the US is trying very hard to control Myanmar future, and probably will sell military equipment to its Government. If that happens, Thailand may be in a not good position, if not strong enough, in case of a West-East military confrontation.

The Cold War is on....again.

If as you predict the border with Burma becomes a source of military tension then Main Battle Tanks, whether made by Russia, China or the USA will probably be the least useful weapon systems for either side.

These are just shiny new toys.

Edited April 17, 2015 by JAG

[nzthai]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=reply_post&f=18&t=817892&qpid=9313374

I mean that Russia is a "bad crowd"

[MZurf]

Hope Thailand is not being fooled into hanging around with a bad crowd instead of taking faster steps to install democracy...it's not a good look for Thailand

Who say's that they are hanging around with a bad crowd - it seems to me they are abandoning a war feverish country for people that understand politics and situations, cos the Yanks certainly don't regards Thailand!!

Who are the "people that understand politics and situations" (whatever that means) - Putin and Kim? Whatever it is you're taking I want nothing of it since it apparently makes you an inhabitant of the Twilight Zone!