Thai And US Military Officials Discuss Next Cobra Gold Exercise

BANGKOK: --  Thai and United States armies continue to maintain close cooperation on defence affairs despite Washington's outspoken criticism of the Thai military's political role.

The Cobra Gold joint military exercise would still be held annually and preparations for next year's operation are proceeding as usual, Lt General Sermsak Niyamosot, deputy chief of staff, said yesterday.

At yesterday's meeting of Thai-US Executive Steering Group at Army headquarters, co-chaired by Sermsak and his American counterpart Lt-General Todd McCaffrey, the United States informed the Thai side that full military assistance |and cooperation would be restored |when Thailand holds an election under the junta's reform roadmap, Sermsak said.

For this year, the two forces have scheduled 26 activities such as the Hanuman Guardian joint drill and an exchange of logistic experts.

Thailand has sent a delegation on a study tour to Texas and Washington.

However, the meeting did not discuss military assistance to Thailand or weapons procurement.

Thailand used to rely heavily on weapons and defence equipment from the US, but the Thai military has had to diversify its sources of materiel to many other countries due to budget constraints, not tense relations.

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said.