The chief commander of the US Army Pacific, General Robert B. Brown, walks with his Thai counterpart, General Chalermchai Sittisart (R) during his visit to Thailand at the Royal Thai Army headquarters in Bangkok on June 5, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)
Bangkok (VNA) – General Robert Brown, head of the US Army Pacific, met with General ChalermchaiSitthisart, commander of the Royal Thai Army, in Bangkok on June 5.
This was a rare top-level meeting between the two militaries since the UnitedStates criticised a Thai military coup in 2014.
The United States and Thailand have had a relationship since 1833. The twocountries have exchanged ideas on military cooperation, the Thai army said in astatement.
The visit to Thailand by GeneralRobert Brown, who is also director of the US Missile Defence Agency in Seoul,comes as the United States looks to reassure allies about its commitment to the region.
Earlier, at the Shangri-La Dialoguein Singapore, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis affirmed that Washington remainscommitted to its Asia-Pacific allies.
Thailand is the US’s oldest ally in the region, but ties were strained by the2014 military coup led by then-army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha that ousted anelected civilian government.
The United States scaled back somemilitary exchanges with Thailand, which responded by forging closer ties with China.
However, the United States andThailand have maintained joint military exercises including the annual CobraGold, Asia's largest multinational drill.
Experts said the US now wants toreaffirm its security influence in the Southeast Asian region.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha will visit the US in July at the invitationof President Donald Trump.-VNA
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The trilateral air exercise among Singapore, Thailand and the US named “Cope Tiger” concluded at Korat Air Base in Thailand, said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on March 18.
The US and Thailand launched the annual Cobra Gold military exercises at the Sattahip Royal Thai Marine Corps Base in Chonburi province, on February 14.
The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Joint Council of Thailand and the United States discussed goals of the bilateral strategic economic cooperation in Bangkok on April 3.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
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Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The chief commander of the US Army Pacific, General Robert B. Brown, walks with his Thai counterpart, General Chalermchai Sittisart (R) during his visit to Thailand at the Royal Thai Army headquarters in Bangkok on June 5, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom) 
