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.
In the face of the US measures to push for democracy, Thailand has strengthened military cooperation with China.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said the change in relations with Thailand marked a worrisome shift given the military's grip on power and the arrests of activists and opponents of army rule.
"It appears Pentagon policymakers are intent on using Cobra Gold as a way to reboot US military engagement with their Thai counterparts," wrote John Sifton of the advocacy group in an opinion piece that first appeared in The Washington Post.
The Thai junta held a referendum last year on a constitution to allow a general election. It is expected next year.
On Tuesday, the government was also due to start meetings with political groups on national reconciliation ahead of the election. Parties have welcomed the idea, but questioned whether the generals can be fair.
Thailand has hosted the Cobra Gold war games since they began in 1982. This year's exercises will be attended by more than 8,300 personnel from 29 countries. Among them will be about 3,600 from the US.
Soldiers from different Asia-Pacific countries attend the opening ceremony of the multilateral military exercise known as Cobra Gold, at Sattahip Royal Thai Marine Corps Base in Chon Buri on Tuesday. (Reuters photo)