CHON BURI - The most senior US officer to visit Thailand since the 2014 coup emphasised the importance of restoring democracy on Tuesday as he launched the annual Cobra Gold military exercise.
The US scaled down its presence at Asia's largest annual multinational military exercise as one of the former US administration's steps to pressure the junta.
With ties improving even before President Donald Trump took office, activists had voiced concern that Washington would put less focus on democratic change in a region where it faces an increasingly forceful China.
"We look forward to Thailand's re-emergence as a flourishing democracy because we need Thailand to be a strong and stable partner," said Adm Harry Harris, head of US Pacific Command, which covers about half the earth's surface.
"We need Thailand to get back to being the regional and global leader that it always has been."
Adm Harris will later meet junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok.
Adm Harris's attendance was planned before the inauguration of Mr Trump, whose policy moves on Asia are closely watched after signals of potential confrontation with China over trade and territory.
Read the full story at BangkokPost