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Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Thailand’s Prime Minister and Protection Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to the Pentagon yesterday to construct on the greater than 200-year-old historical past between the 2 nations.
Thailand is America’s oldest buddy and ally within the Indo-Pacific, and for hundreds of years the 2 nations have labored intently collectively to bolster safety within the area, Austin stated.
Austin additionally introduced that he’ll make his first journey to Thailand as protection secretary subsequent month.
Austin thanked the prime minister for the assistance Thailand has supplied america over time. He singled out entry to Thailand’s U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield. He additionally thanked the Thai individuals for internet hosting Train Cobra Gold — one of many largest navy workout routines within the area. Austin was happy that the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t cease the train and stated america will likely be again at full scale for the 2023 train.
“In the present day, I am trying ahead to discussing our entry and presence initiatives, additional alternatives for joint coaching and different problems with widespread concern — together with border safety,” Austin stated. “And we’ll speak about new methods to strengthen our alliance for years to return.”
Each the secretary and the prime minister talked about the cooperation between the 2 nations on COVID-19. “We have confronted challenges collectively as allies — together with the pandemic — the place we have cooperated on response efforts and medical analysis,” Austin stated.
The prime minister thanked america “for offering COVID-19 vaccine and different key medical gear which was an awesome profit to our nation. This displays the shut cooperation between Thailand and america, extending again over 189 years.”
The prime minister additional stated COVID-19 is an instance of the “new type of threats that every one nations should confront. That is an space wherein the Thai and U.S. navy can cooperate as effectively to additional defend our society and strengthen our infrastructure on this regard.”
The Thai authorities can be working to modernize and professionalize the armed forces in response to the more and more advanced safety atmosphere, Prayut stated. He stated they are going to base the requirements for the navy on American forces. “I want to take this chance to thank america for supporting us on navy {hardware} and gear, which has performed an essential function in guaranteeing our navy readiness and modernization of our armed forces,” he stated. “The USA has additionally supplied us with assist for coaching on varied curricula, and the data and expertise from the programs is significant in creating our armed forces and in selling its professionalization.”
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