The United States envoy in Bangkok, W Patrick Murphy, has reiterated a call asking the Thai government to return to democracy as soon as possible to restore full engagement between the two countries.
Deputy Supreme Commander Gen Wutthinan Leelayuth, centre, and the US charge d'affaires W Patrick Murphy, third left, preside over the opening ceremony of the Cobra Gold Exercise 2015 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in Nakhon Nayok. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
He made his remarks during a ceremony launching this year's Cobra Gold multilateral annual military drill in Nakhon Nayok on Monday.
Mr Murphy referred to the recent visit of US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel, who called on the regime to return Thailand to democracy.
"A senior US envoy recently visiting Thailand made clear our unwavering friendship and support for the Thai people, as well as our hopes for the country's return to democracy as soon as possible so we can restore our bilateral relationship to its full potential," he said.
Mr Murphy, who is the US embassy's charge d'affaires, also insisted on the necessity of modifying the 2015 military drill, in which the US has scaled down its troop deployment and focuses mainly on humanitarian missions.
"We can't deny this period is a challenging one for us all, and has necessitated a modified Cobra Gold exercise this year as Thailand manages its return to elected, civilian-led government," the US envoy said.
Deputy Supreme Commander Gen Wutthinan Leelayuth, meanwhile, stressed the ties of friendship that are forged from the military exercise, saying Cobra Gold reflects the warm relations among countries taking part.
Gen Wutthinan also said the drill will be conducted with safety and transparency.
Cobra Gold began in 1982 as a bilateral drill between Thailand and the US, but later broadened to include a total of 24 countries, seven of which — Thailand, the US, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia — play key roles in the exercise.
This year the troops will focus on humanitarian civic action, evacuations and some battle activities.
The drills will be conducted mainly in Nakhon Nayok, Lop Buri, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Rayong and Nakhon Ratchasima with more than 8000 military personnel from all 24 nations likely to join the exercises.
The US military has scaled down its numbers of military personnel from more than 8000 in previous years to 3700 this year, following last year's coup.