US admiral renews strong ties

A senior US navy officer yesterday reassured the Samak government of the renewal of Washington's strong bond with Thailand. Admiral Timothy Keating, the commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, visited Bangkok yesterday after the US Congress approved the resumption of military aid to Thailand early this month.

Adm Keating met Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej and senior Thai military officers including Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit.

After the meeting, Adm Keating said now that Thailand has a democratically elected government, routine military cooperation between the two countries would be resumed immediately.

 

He was referring to the Cobra Gold war games scheduled for May, whose focus remains on field exercises and technological training on humanitarian relief operations, as well as other training schemes for Thai military and civilian professionals under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme.

 

There would be more visits and personnel exchanges from various levels including non-commissioned officers, Adm Keating said.

''Regular business in our [military] relations will return, although there is no specific programme, but the fact that this year is the 175th year of the two countries' relationship, it is already a special era,'' said Adm Keating, the first senior US officer to visit Thailand since the Samak government took office.

It is a traditional gesture for the chief of the US Pacific Command based in Hawaii to pay a visit to Thailand, which is a major non-Nato ally of the US.

Adm Keating, who took office in April last year, had delayed the visit until Thailand had an elected government.

 

Source: Bangkok Post - February 28, 2008