Kenney: US did not downgrade ties after coup; Obama-Prayut handshake possible
The United States will resume the annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand next year, outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney confirmed yesterday.
The Cobra Gold training will be held in Thailand next year, as Thailand remains an important partner and friend to the US, she said. The exercise was not held this year.
However, she said the ban on military aid could not be restored until there was an elected government in Thailand. "There is nothing that can be done about that because it is according to our law," she said.
In an exclusive interview with Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon yesterday, she explained that Thailand remains a very important strategic partner of the US, as they are actively involved in the region.
The US and Thailand have held the Cobra Gold exercise together since 1980, each year involving some 13,000 participants from US-friendly nations across the region. The annual military drill is one of the largest US military exercises and a key element in the US pivot to Asia strategy.
Shortly after the coup on May 22, the US decided to block $4.7 million in security-related aid to Thailand, which accounts for roughly half of its $10.5-million in annual assistance. Officials also said they were considering moving the annual exercise to other countries.
"Sometimes we may disagree but that doesn't mean we abandon each other; it is important to know where we disagree so we can work on it," the ambassador said.
Prayut to sit beside Obama
Prime Minister and coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha and President Barack Obama are scheduled to attend the Asean Summit in Myanmar's new capital Nay Pyi Taw on November 12-13. The Thai and US leaders are expected to sit next to each other under the seating arrangement.
Despite US disapproval of the takeover, the US ambassador said the coup leader-turned-prime minister could expect the US president to treat him as per diplomatic protocol.
"The president is always gracious and will never be rude. He values protocol over political disagreement," she said in reply to a question on whether the two leaders would shake hands with each other.
Keneny will leave Thailand after almost four years as ambassador. During her time in Bangkok, she had to deal with diplomatic fallout of the coup.
Although the junta has unveiled its road map for the country's return to democracy with a general election due to be held at the end of next year, she still has some concerns, such as the continued imposition of martial law in some areas and freedom of expression.
She clarified that the US had not downgraded its relationship with Thailand after the coup.
Among the most challenging times she has experienced in Thailand, she cited the 2011 floods more than the coup.
"The flood affected everyone in the country. I found it personally very challenging as a human being; the embassy staff came to live at my house because they had nowhere else to go, they even had to bring their grandmas and their dogs!" she joked.
However, she was also very impressed with how Thai people responded.
"I was very impressed with the resilience of Thai people; everyone helped each other and bounced back from the crisis,"
Political issues aside, she said she loved the country and regretted that she had not visited all the provinces.
"I have been to 48 provinces and each of them is very unique in its own way. I will return some day to visit the rest," Kenney said.
The ambassador is scheduled to leave Thailand on November 6 and will assume her new role at the US foreign department as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communication and Outreach in Public Policy in Asia.
She said the next US ambassador should be approved by Congress and will be posted next year.
Kenney: US did not downgrade ties after coup; Obama-Prayut handshake possible
The United States will resume the annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand next year, outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney confirmed yesterday.
The Cobra Gold training will be held in Thailand next year, as Thailand remains an important partner and friend to the US, she said. The exercise was not held this year.
However, she said the ban on military aid could not be restored until there was an elected government in Thailand. "There is nothing that can be done about that because it is according to our law," she said.
In an exclusive interview with Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon yesterday, she explained that Thailand remains a very important strategic partner of the US, as they are actively involved in the region.
The US and Thailand have held the Cobra Gold exercise together since 1980, each year involving some 13,000 participants from US-friendly nations across the region. The annual military drill is one of the largest US military exercises and a key element in the US pivot to Asia strategy.
Shortly after the coup on May 22, the US decided to block $4.7 million in security-related aid to Thailand, which accounts for roughly half of its $10.5-million in annual assistance. Officials also said they were considering moving the annual exercise to other countries.
"Sometimes we may disagree but that doesn't mean we abandon each other; it is important to know where we disagree so we can work on it," the ambassador said.
Prayut to sit beside Obama
Prime Minister and coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha and President Barack Obama are scheduled to attend the Asean Summit in Myanmar's new capital Nay Pyi Taw on November 12-13. The Thai and US leaders are expected to sit next to each other under the seating arrangement.
Despite US disapproval of the takeover, the US ambassador said the coup leader-turned-prime minister could expect the US president to treat him as per diplomatic protocol.
"The president is always gracious and will never be rude. He values protocol over political disagreement," she said in reply to a question on whether the two leaders would shake hands with each other.
Keneny will leave Thailand after almost four years as ambassador. During her time in Bangkok, she had to deal with diplomatic fallout of the coup.
Although the junta has unveiled its road map for the country's return to democracy with a general election due to be held at the end of next year, she still has some concerns, such as the continued imposition of martial law in some areas and freedom of expression.
She clarified that the US had not downgraded its relationship with Thailand after the coup.
Among the most challenging times she has experienced in Thailand, she cited the 2011 floods more than the coup.
"The flood affected everyone in the country. I found it personally very challenging as a human being; the embassy staff came to live at my house because they had nowhere else to go, they even had to bring their grandmas and their dogs!" she joked.
However, she was also very impressed with how Thai people responded.
"I was very impressed with the resilience of Thai people; everyone helped each other and bounced back from the crisis,"
Political issues aside, she said she loved the country and regretted that she had not visited all the provinces.
"I have been to 48 provinces and each of them is very unique in its own way. I will return some day to visit the rest," Kenney said.
The ambassador is scheduled to leave Thailand on November 6 and will assume her new role at the US foreign department as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communication and Outreach in Public Policy in Asia.
She said the next US ambassador should be approved by Congress and will be posted next year.
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