Early October, Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from the United Kingdom was in Bangkok to "re-engage" Thailand after the power seizure last May. He was one of most senior defence officials from Europe to stop over here for such a purpose. For Thailand, the UK is the most important European country as far as security is concerned.
London is considered traditionally friendly to Bangkok even though such persistency has been evaporating in recent years. EU has been at the forefront pressuring Thailand to return to democracy and improve standards on human rights-related issues.
Ancona's visit had nothing to do with Mark Kent, the Thai-speaking British ambassador, who was summoned recently to the Foreign Ministry for his comment on the current political situation. Rather, it was part of the realisation in the West that if Thailand has been left unattended, or in a state of "freezing" according to a diplomatic jargon, it could backfire on them. Now, Thailand has normal relations with nearly all the countries in the United Nations.
No wonder, the newly appointed the Pacific Command or PACOM, Navy Adm Harry B Harris Jr, is currently working together with the Thai armed forces to plan for a visit to Thailand. His visit will send a strong signal that Thai-US defence ties have returned to a "normal" state. The region's largest military annual exercise, Cobra Gold, will continue despite earlier threats of cancellation. Some US$1.4 million in international military education and training assistance has been suspended but other forms of assistance continue. This year marks 183 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations. Thailand is one of five US allies in the Asia-Pacific.
Of late, Washington's more enthusiastic and friendlier response to Bangkok has mainly been the outcome of Thailand's latest diplomatic initiatives and improved regional and international standing. Last month, Thailand was elected and succeeded South Africa as the chair of Group 77, which it helped found in 1964. Early this year Thailand decided to up its profile in the 133-member grouping, the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations.
So far, all analysis on the new Thai diplomatic moves was framed as part of overall strategies to win votes for the bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-18. At a deeper level, it serves as a barometer of Thailand's shift on diplomatic practices, adding more flexibility for multi-pronged approaches as it distances from US-oriented pathways. It comes, interestingly, while Thailand's regional position has been boosted both within Asean and other sub-regional groups. Thailand is also the current chair of the Asia Dialogue Cooperation established in 2002. As one of the founders of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sector Technical Cooperation in 1997, Bangkok has vowed to reinvigorate the grouping that links South Asia and Asean.
In contrast, Thai-US ties are at the lowest ebb since 1975 when US troops moved out of Thailand and all US air facilities shut down after the war in Indochina. Bilateral ties could go down further if the Obama administration continues to make friends with former enemies. Bangkok's failure to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council last year was a blow to national pride. In private, Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.
With the new road map, ongoing political reforms will continue here till the election scheduled in mid-2017. So, the US faces a Catch-22 situation. Obviously, Washington can no longer be complacent and allow ties to drift further toward mummification. The past 18 months were difficult times for Thailand, forcing the country to seek support from both familiar and unfamiliar friends. Washington has a lot of catching up to do.
Closer to home, Thailand has excellent relations and a secure strategic environment in the region with neighbouring countries. The recent nationwide ceasefire in Myanmar, albeit an incomplete one, has greatly boosted border security as it effectively ended the deep-rooted mutual mistrust over the past 50-plus years. Key armed ethnic groups along the Burmese border were among the eight signatories. The Thai National Security Council has been providing logistical support for the numerous meetings between Nay Pyi Taw and armed ethnic groups over the past two and half years. To acknowledge its positive contribution, Thailand was invited to witness the signing of the peace deal last Thursday. Thailand is also hoping the ongoing peace process in the south will produce a similar result.
Ironically, while Thai-US ties are sliding, Thailand's regional position has dramatically surged. The arrival of the Asean Community at the end of this year will further promote the Kingdom's pivotal role in the scheming of the US "rebalancing" in Asia; without Thailand, the four-year-old strategy will not work. At this juncture, the Thai-US alliance has reached a crossroads as the Thai armed forces are reviewing its obligations and usefulness, given the prevailing strategic situation in the region.
Without a clear threat as in the Cold War coming from the communist bloc, coupled with the new Thai security perception since last May, the necessity for an alliance in finding less supporting voices among policy-makers, especially in the middle echelon. They want to see an emerging regional security structure that is more multilateral and Asean focused. Simply put, any country that ignores Thailand does so at its own peril.
Early October, Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from the United Kingdom was in Bangkok to "re-engage" Thailand after the power seizure last May. He was one of most senior defence officials from Europe to stop over here for such a purpose. For Thailand, the UK is the most important European country as far as security is concerned.London is considered traditionally friendly to Bangkok even though such persistency has been evaporating in recent years. EU has been at the forefront pressuring Thailand to return to democracy and improve standards on human rights-related issues.Ancona's visit had nothing to do with Mark Kent, the Thai-speaking British ambassador, who was summoned recently to the Foreign Ministry for his comment on the current political situation. Rather, it was part of the realisation in the West that if Thailand has been left unattended, or in a state of "freezing" according to a diplomatic jargon, it could backfire on them. Now, Thailand has normal relations with nearly all the countries in the United Nations.No wonder, the newly appointed the Pacific Command or PACOM, Navy Adm Harry B Harris Jr, is currently working together with the Thai armed forces to plan for a visit to Thailand. His visit will send a strong signal that Thai-US defence ties have returned to a "normal" state. The region's largest military annual exercise, Cobra Gold, will continue despite earlier threats of cancellation. Some US$1.4 million in international military education and training assistance has been suspended but other forms of assistance continue. This year marks 183 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations. Thailand is one of five US allies in the Asia-Pacific.Of late, Washington's more enthusiastic and friendlier response to Bangkok has mainly been the outcome of Thailand's latest diplomatic initiatives and improved regional and international standing. Last month, Thailand was elected and succeeded South Africa as the chair of Group 77, which it helped found in 1964. Early this year Thailand decided to up its profile in the 133-member grouping, the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations.So far, all analysis on the new Thai diplomatic moves was framed as part of overall strategies to win votes for the bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-18. At a deeper level, it serves as a barometer of Thailand's shift on diplomatic practices, adding more flexibility for multi-pronged approaches as it distances from US-oriented pathways. It comes, interestingly, while Thailand's regional position has been boosted both within Asean and other sub-regional groups. Thailand is also the current chair of the Asia Dialogue Cooperation established in 2002. As one of the founders of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sector Technical Cooperation in 1997, Bangkok has vowed to reinvigorate the grouping that links South Asia and Asean.In contrast, Thai-US ties are at the lowest ebb since 1975 when US troops moved out of Thailand and all US air facilities shut down after the war in Indochina. Bilateral ties could go down further if the Obama administration continues to make friends with former enemies. Bangkok's failure to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council last year was a blow to national pride. In private, Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.With the new road map, ongoing political reforms will continue here till the election scheduled in mid-2017. So, the US faces a Catch-22 situation. Obviously, Washington can no longer be complacent and allow ties to drift further toward mummification. The past 18 months were difficult times for Thailand, forcing the country to seek support from both familiar and unfamiliar friends. Washington has a lot of catching up to do.Closer to home, Thailand has excellent relations and a secure strategic environment in the region with neighbouring countries. The recent nationwide ceasefire in Myanmar, albeit an incomplete one, has greatly boosted border security as it effectively ended the deep-rooted mutual mistrust over the past 50-plus years. Key armed ethnic groups along the Burmese border were among the eight signatories. The Thai National Security Council has been providing logistical support for the numerous meetings between Nay Pyi Taw and armed ethnic groups over the past two and half years. To acknowledge its positive contribution, Thailand was invited to witness the signing of the peace deal last Thursday. Thailand is also hoping the ongoing peace process in the south will produce a similar result.Ironically, while Thai-US ties are sliding, Thailand's regional position has dramatically surged. The arrival of the Asean Community at the end of this year will further promote the Kingdom's pivotal role in the scheming of the US "rebalancing" in Asia; without Thailand, the four-year-old strategy will not work. At this juncture, the Thai-US alliance has reached a crossroads as the Thai armed forces are reviewing its obligations and usefulness, given the prevailing strategic situation in the region.Without a clear threat as in the Cold War coming from the communist bloc, coupled with the new Thai security perception since last May, the necessity for an alliance in finding less supporting voices among policy-makers, especially in the middle echelon. They want to see an emerging regional security structure that is more multilateral and Asean focused. Simply put, any country that ignores Thailand does so at its own peril.
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