Thai and US military officials discuss next Cobra Gold exercise

[webfact]

Thai and US military officials discuss next Cobra Gold exercise
THE NATION


File Photo

BANGKOK: -- THE Thai and United States armies continue to maintain close cooperation on defence affairs despite Washington's outspoken criticism of the Thai military's political role.

The Cobra Gold joint military exercise would still be held annually and preparations for next year's operation are proceeding as usual, Lt General Sermsak Niyamosot, deputy chief of staff, said yesterday.

At yesterday's meeting of Thai-US Executive Steering Group at Army headquarters, co-chaired by Sermsak and his American counterpart Lt-General Todd McCaffrey, the United States informed the Thai side that full military assistance |and cooperation would be restored |when Thailand holds an election under the junta's reform roadmap, Sermsak said.

For this year, the two forces have scheduled 26 activities such as the Hanuman Guardian joint drill and an exchange of logistic experts.

Thailand has sent a delegation on a study tour to Texas and Washington.

However, the meeting did not discuss military assistance to Thailand or weapons procurement.

Thailand used to rely heavily on weapons and defence equipment from the US, but the Thai military has had to diversify its sources of materiel to many other countries due to budget constraints, not tense relations.

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thai-and-US-military-officials-discuss-next-Cobra--30264953.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-22

[trogers]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

[Somtamnication]

Cobra is being reduced so drastically due to the coup and American hypocrisy, that next year's Cobra will be a Thai cooking class for the yanks!

[kamahele]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

We (the US) have military on the ground year round in the Philippines ostensibly as "observers" and for "training" in their insurgency. I think with Thailand is not for the US to gain training benefits but for the Thais to benefit

[KOZMO]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

After Thailand closed all the US bases we had a huge exercise every year at Clark AFB called COPE THUNDER. We also had a huge exercise in Korea called TEAM SPIRIT. These were held each year. I was on the first return exercise

\

to Thailand in 1982 called COMMANDO WEST. This turned into COBRA GOLD,

[Srikcir]

I suspect there are "wheels within wheels" with the USA's continued Cobra exercises with the Thai military.

For better or worse the USA has a reputation for directly or indirectly creating regime changes.

The USA military remaining in contact with "certain elements" of the Thai military without directly supporting or benefiting the Junta may be just one of several tactics to achieve an end. Nothing hypocritical about that.

Frankly, if General Prayut was serious about keeping his commitments to his Russian and Chinese Security Agreements, he should terminate Thailand's participation in Cobra Gold. Not doing so will imply that the Junta cannot be a dependable partner that may affect its relationship with other Asia-Pacific countries.

[Baerboxer]

I suspect there are "wheels within wheels" with the USA's continued Cobra exercises with the Thai military.

For better or worse the USA has a reputation for directly or indirectly creating regime changes.

The USA military remaining in contact with "certain elements" of the Thai military without directly supporting or benefiting the Junta may be just one of several tactics to achieve an end. Nothing hypocritical about that.

Frankly, if General Prayut was serious about keeping his commitments to his Russian and Chinese Security Agreements, he should terminate Thailand's participation in Cobra Gold. Not doing so will imply that the Junta cannot be a dependable partner that may affect its relationship with other Asia-Pacific countries.

Do you recall what Yingluck's strategy was, in her capacity as defense minister, appertaining to Cobra Gold, US Thai military co-operation, China and Russia Security Agreements, and weapons procurement strategy?

I seem to have missed her parliamentary speeches on those topics.

[Minnehaha]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

Philippines is already a basket case and their relationship with the USA is and always will be as it is today.

Thailand has strategic importance greater and different from Pines. For example - excellent black sites for torture, has 20 million (or similar) tourists and is the preferred vacation spot for terrorist related international players, and more.

[Minnehaha]

I suspect there are "wheels within wheels" with the USA's continued Cobra exercises with the Thai military.

For better or worse the USA has a reputation for directly or indirectly creating regime changes.

The USA military remaining in contact with "certain elements" of the Thai military without directly supporting or benefiting the Junta may be just one of several tactics to achieve an end. Nothing hypocritical about that.

Frankly, if General Prayut was serious about keeping his commitments to his Russian and Chinese Security Agreements, he should terminate Thailand's participation in Cobra Gold. Not doing so will imply that the Junta cannot be a dependable partner that may affect its relationship with other Asia-Pacific countries.

Good point.

This can be seen with further clarity ... if one reads the NYT piece printed on 19 July that speaks to Thai military politics and personalities... and other players.

[Minnehaha]

Nice picture.

Thai General says "This leaf you can eat if you get hungry. It is delicious."

and the training is finished for today. where is the canteen?

[DaddyWarbucks]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

...and just as irrelevant from anything relating to military contingencies in the real world.

[Emster23]

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said."

In spirit of "we can all learn from each other" Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups, traffic illegal immigrants, sue pesky journalists. "That may come in handy if the Demos win White House again" quipped Gen. Jack D. Ripper

[Praematura]

Current regime is throwing its lot with China. Thailand is useful for something like hosting a massive DEA hub but not geopolitically. Thailand milked out the West ostensibly fighting communists and got a pass. Those days are gone, this place is going downhill faster than the NPL reported by CIMB last quarter.

American hypocrisy presumably relates to comparable regimes such as the one in Egypt. But hypocrisy it is not if you see the U.S. views supporting a secular government vs a religious based one such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Here in LOS there is no such equivalency and only ignorance suggests otherwise.

[wabothai]

I would call this opportunism from both sides.

[bassman]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

Philippines is already a basket case and their relationship with the USA is and always will be as it is today.

Thailand has strategic importance greater and different from Pines. For example - excellent black sites for torture, has 20 million (or similar) tourists and is the preferred vacation spot for terrorist related international players, and more.

Would have to disagree with you on the strategic importance of Thailand in relationship to PI. PI has Subic Bay one of the deepest ports in Asia, a place where carriers can pull up pier side. Hell, in fact Thailand water is so shallow it wouldn't even be suitable for submarines...

[PeCeDe]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

Speaking of R&R, PI was where I found out to my delight that not all girls were "Ice Cream and Candy Floss," That was nearly 50 years ago... wonder where they are now? Umm, maybe not.

[Jim walker]

Can we take out our new submarines to play with kind US general

[Tony125]

Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said.

Oh really? Its already affected relations. Cobra Gold used to have 3,000 + memebers from US forces doing manuvers with Thai. Since the coup only a few hundred work out with Thai doing like humaniterian drillls, helping flood damage, treatring wounded ect. No arms sales and no money as the US gave Thailand before untill as was said Thailand has an elected government. And for those that are not aware 8 months after the coup and 22 years after closing the bases in the Phillippines the USA signed a 10 year treaty with the Phiollippines to open Subic Bay and Clark AFB . They will have over 10,000 personel statiioned there with ships and planes. Does it seem like the USA is dependiing on Thailand to sharpen its tropical fighting skills?

[emilymat]

Cobra is being reduced so drastically due to the coup and American hypocrisy, that next year's Cobra will be a Thai cooking class for the yanks!

Yep. But what a strong word 'cobra'!. Even in the UK, every time there is a problem, the PM convenes the "Cobra' committee at No 10.

It's in danger of replacing 'logistics' as the buzz word.

[mikemac]

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said."

In spirit of "we can all learn from each other" Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups, traffic illegal immigrants, sue pesky journalists. "That may come in handy if the Demos win White House again" quipped Gen. Jack D. Ripper

......................."Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups"...........................

Really ? This statement makes about as much sense as the rest of your post.

[mikemac]

Cobra is being reduced so drastically due to the coup and American hypocrisy, that next year's Cobra will be a Thai cooking class for the yanks!

Yep. But what a strong word 'cobra'!. Even in the UK, every time there is a problem, the PM convenes the "Cobra' committee at No 10.

It's in danger of replacing 'logistics' as the buzz word.

That's funny, the UK does not even have snakes. That would be like Australia having the "Badger" committee.

And I thought "Big Data" replaced "logistics" as the latest buzz word.

[rijb]

Cobra is being reduced so drastically due to the coup and American hypocrisy, that next year's Cobra will be a Thai cooking class for the yanks!

You should think about your own learning needs. How to Be Wittier

[Acharn]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

Thailand is the strategic base of choice for Southeast Asia. The Philippines are inconveniently far for the fighter escorts for the bombers, and there is an established logistics network here. Why do you think the U.S. Army Engineers built all those highways in the 1950s? They were already planning the Vietnam War. That was also why the CIA started sending large sums of money to Phibul Songkhram, Sarit, and Thanom. I always found it interesting that the first Communist uprising occurred shortly after the first CIA anti-communist assistance program was announced here. The Thai military have been extremely cooperative. We have never had a Status of Forces Agreement with Thailand, but that didn't prevent an orderly turnover of American military personnel to the Thai courts when they committed drug offenses, rape, and murder during the Vietnam War.

[Acharn]

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said."

In spirit of "we can all learn from each other" Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups, traffic illegal immigrants, sue pesky journalists. "That may come in handy if the Demos win White House again" quipped Gen. Jack D. Ripper

......................."Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups"...........................

Really ? This statement makes about as much sense as the rest of your post.

That's a joke, son -- Foghorn D. Leghorn

[ravip]

Why don't they hold the exercise in the Philippines? Just as interesting a place for R&R.

We (the US) have military on the ground year round in the Philippines ostensibly as "observers" and for "training" in their insurgency. I think with Thailand is not for the US to gain training benefits but for the Thais to benefit

If that is true, quite good.

Never heard of the US doing anything good, other than to themselves.

[ravip]

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said."

In spirit of "we can all learn from each other" Thai army will teach US military the rudiments of how to stage coups, traffic illegal immigrants, sue pesky journalists. "That may come in handy if the Demos win White House again" quipped Gen. Jack D. Ripper

And the Thai's will learn to destroy other countries and interfere in everything in another's business!

[johnnywishbone]

The USA. First in peace. First in war. Famine. Ebola. Typhoon. Earthquake. Always first.

When Obama disappears, the planet earth will be safer.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tony125]

Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said.

Oh really? Its already affected relations. Cobra Gold used to have 3,000 + memebers from US forces doing manuvers with Thai. Since the coup only a few hundred work out with Thai doing like humaniterian drillls, helping flood damage, treatring wounded ect. No arms sales and no money as the US gave Thailand before untill as was said Thailand has an elected government. And for those that are not aware 8 months after the coup and 22 years after closing the bases in the Phillippines the USA signed a 10 year treaty with the Phiollippines to open Subic Bay and Clark AFB . They will have over 10,000 personel statiioned there with ships and planes. Does it seem like the USA is dependiing on Thailand to sharpen its tropical fighting skills?

The United States plans to increase the number of military and humanitarian drills it conducts in the Asia-Pacific as part of a new strategy to counter China's rapid expansion in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said on Wednesday.

Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, highlighted key aspects of the Pentagon's freshly drafted Asia Pacific Maritime Security Strategy during talks with his Filipino counterpart, General Hernando Iriberri, during a visit to Manila.

Colonel Restituto Padilla, a military spokesman, told journalists that the report outlined Washington's set of actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, focusing on the protection of "freedom of seas", deterring conflict and coercion, and promoting adherence to international law.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims.

A military source, who was in the meeting between Harris and Iriberri, told Reuters the U.S. and the Philippines are expected to increase the size, frequency and sophistication of exercises in the region.

Since China's land reclamation efforts began in December 2013, it has reclaimed more than 2,900 acres (1,170 hectares) of land as of June 2015, the Pentagon said last week in a report on its Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy.

[Thai at Heart]

So now it's about running back to their old friends.