Good U.S. relations with Thailand have been important for many years, but they now face two significant challenges.
Good U.S. relations with Thailand have been important for many years, but they now face two significant challenges.
The first is an impending difficult succession in the country’s monarchy. The second is a hurdle for President Barack Obama — reconciling the federal law that requires a cutoff of U.S. military aid to governments installed by coups d’etat with retaining the close relations that have existed with Thailand.
So far, the Obama administration has chosen to disregard Section 508 of the Foreign Assistance Act in regard to Thailand.
Thailand’s coup occurred in 2014, when the military responded to a murky electoral situation and the inability of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, now 88, to resolve such matters due to ill health. The coup’s leader, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, became prime minister.
The U.S. military is scheduled to co-host with Thailand 11 days of joint exercises called Cobra Gold beginning Feb. 9. The United States will provide 3,288 troops, including air, ground and sea forces. This 35th version of Cobra Gold is expected to be the largest military drill held in Asia in 2016.
The Obama administration sees Cobra Gold as a demonstration of U.S. military power and allies in the region dominated by China. It accompanies a summit of leaders in the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations that Obama will host in Sunnylands, Calif., Feb. 15-16.
The importance of good U.S. relations with Asian nations is certainly understandable. What is not justified is the Obama administration’s violation of law, which Cobra Gold appears to constitute.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette