Bangkok, Thailand-
General Chalermphon Srisawasdi, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, held the first-ever 2022 U.S.-Thailand Senior Leader Dialogue (SLD) at Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Bangkok, June 8.
General Chalermphon and Admiral Aquilino concluded the successful SLD by signing the Thailand – United States Joint Vision Statement 2020 Support Framework, which outlines the means to operationalize the Joint Vision Statement 2020. The key takeaways are:
- Regional Security Architecture: The United States continues to support Thailand’s critical leadership role in ASEAN and ASEAN partnerships, and works with Thai Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine Experts Working Group to standardize emergency medical team standards.
- Partnership: The U.S. and Thailand will broaden the scope and complexity of exercises, including on defensive cyber security and joint military medicine operations.
- Presence: Support Thailand’s posture as a regional hub for HADR operations and logistics.
- Sustainable Security Cooperation: The U.S. supports long-term Royal Thai Armed Forces modernization and increase bilateral professional military education exchanges.
- Leadership: The U.S. will support the Thai Counter Terrorist Operations Center to become a regional leader and example in counter terrorist operations.
“The Senior Leader’s Dialogue is a culmination of our military – to – military dialogues and it marks another important milestone for U.S. and Thailand partnership as we advance our mutual interests and shared values to enhance our capability and interoperability towards a stable, prosperous and sustainable defense alliance,” said General Chalermphon.
Thailand and the U.S. look forward to ongoing, close cooperation in areas central to our national and security interests including counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and many others.
“It is always an honor and privilege for me to come to Thailand, one of our oldest U.S. treaty allies. The alliance between Thailand and the United States is a very important part of ensuring regional stability and prosperity is maintained for the benefit of all,” said Admiral Aquilino.
Thailand and the U.S. co-host Cobra Gold, the Indo-Pacific region’s largest annual multinational military exercise. Since 1950, Thailand has received U.S. military equipment, essential supplies, training, and assistance with construction and improvement of facilities. The U.S. has an annual slate of more than 400 joint military exercises and engagements with the Kingdom of Thailand.
The U.S.-Thai alliance benefits both nations and supports peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
The preceding is from the US Embassy in Thailand which has a news-sharing relationship with TPN media and is reprinted with approval.
