Editorial: US Nominates New Envoy to Thailand Amid Strained Ties

Glyn T Davies
(Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

By Prashanth Parameswaran

The move comes following a six month vacancy for the post.

U.S. President Barack Obama nominated former U.S. envoy for North Korea policy Glyn Davies as ambassador to Thailand on Monday following a six month vacancy for the post, media outlets reported.

Davies’ appointment, which has to be approved by the Senate, comes amid strained ties between the United States and Thailand, which is Washington’s oldest Asian ally. As The Diplomat reported previously, the United States had suspended some aid and later downgraded its annual Cobra Gold exercises with Bangkok following a coup last May. Ties looked to be deteriorating even further after U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel publicly rebuked the ruling junta in a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on January 26, which angered officials including Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.

Read the full story at The Diplomat