ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT TO THAILAND: IMPORTANCE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 000411 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF MARR MASS MCAP TH SUBJECT: ADMIRAL WILLARD'S VISIT TO THAILAND: IMPORTANCE OF BILATERAL TIES HIGHLIGHTED Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Senior Thai leaders stressed continued U.S. engagement in Thailand and assistance to the Thai military as extremely valuable during Admiral Willard's February 2-7 visit. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva highlighted his desire for continued strong U.S. engagement in Thailand and the region as a positive factor for development and for balancing regional powers. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya stressed that Thailand hoped for increased International Military Education and Training funding, both to positively facilitate the development of the next generation of Thai military leaders and to assist the RTG's efforts to develop a Coast Guard. Kasit also underscored Thai hopes to receive excess defense articles. ¶2. (C) Summary, cont: Admiral Willard reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the bilateral relationship and U.S. military appreciation for the Thailand's role in providing key training and access opportunities. Despite the U.S. engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and approximately 30,000 PACOM troops serving in both conflicts, the PACOM Commander would continue to develop the military to military relationship with Thailand. Admiral Willard said that while PACOM had relationships with thirty-six nations, the Thai relationship was unique. Septels address regional foreign policy and domestic issues. End summary. ¶3. (C) Comment: Admiral Willard's visit in conjunction with the multilateral Cobra Gold exercise highlighted the mutual benefit of the bilateral relationship and was an important signal to the Thai of the U.S. awareness of the value of the relationship. Thai interlocutors expressed strong appreciation for the alliance but also recommended that the U.S. look to make sure that Thailand continued to benefit from the relationship. End comment. ¶4. (C) During the February 2-7 visit, Admiral Willard and the Ambassador met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and Royal Thai Armed Chief of Defense Forces General Songkitti Jaggabatra. In addition, Admiral Willard and the Ambassador engaged Royal Thai Army (RTA) Commander General Anupong Paojinda and RTA Deputy Commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Deputy Secretary General for Prime Minister Abhisit and Acting RTG Spokesperson Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, CP Group Executive Vice President and former high-ranking Thai diplomat Dr. Sarasin Viraphol, and Assistant Group Editor of the Nation Multimedia Group Kavi Chongkittavorn. BILATERAL TIES HIGHLIGHTED AS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) PM Abhisit during a February 5 meeting expressed RTG appreciation for the Obama administration's commitment to re-engaging with Asia, as well as PACOM's long-term relations with Thailand, particularly through the Cobra Gold exercise. The Thai public looked very positively upon close U.S.-Thai ties, specifically the long-standing military to military relationship. Abhisit stated the U.S. had a continuing constructive role in the Asia Pacific region, as it provided balance to other regional powers. Sustaining this engagement was important to the RTG, Abhisit said. ¶6. (C) Admiral Willard expressed appreciation to Abhisit for Thai leadership in the region, as this had facilitated USG and PACOM goals for the region. There was great benefit in the two nations' militaries training and working together. In addition, the generous access provided by Thailand to facilities greatly assisted U.S. military force flow, Admiral Willard said. ¶7. (C) Separately February 5, FM Kasit highlighted the U.S.-Thai military relationship as the key pillar to the overall bilateral relationship. The relationship was unique, as the U.S. was Thailand's number one partner. Kasit suggested increased information and intelligence sharing, where possible, as a valuable area for enhanced cooperation. Kasit also stressed that the International Military Education BANGKOK 00000411 002 OF 004 and Training (IMET) program was important in assisting the next generation of Thai military leaders' understanding of the importance of the U.S.-Thai relationship, as well as global issues. Kasit also highlighted the U.S.-sponsored International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) as a key institution in the region. Kasit underscored close bilateral cooperation as having proven particularly beneficial during response efforts following the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 Cyclone Nargis. Improving civilian-military cooperation for disaster response was an essential ASEAN goal. ¶8. (C) Minister of Defense Prawit Wongsuwan February 5 also reinforced the importance of the relationship with the U.S. to Thailand. Bilateral security cooperation had gone far in strengthening Royal Thai Armed Forces, Prawit said. Thailand looked to the U.S. as a true friend, and was attempting to use the U.S. as a model for the development of Thai democracy. Prawit said Thailand faced significant domestic challenges, and the Thai government had been internally focused. Nonetheless, the RTG was trying hard to solve the problems, after which Thailand would again become more regionally and globally focused. Admiral Willard said that the relationship with Thailand was unique for the U.S., and the access provided by Thailand to air and sea facilities for the U.S. military was of immense value. Admiral Willard said he viewed as his responsibility promoting an understanding of the U.S.-Thai relationship among senior U.S. leaders and in Congress. THAI APPRECIATION FOR COBRA GOLD -------------- ¶9. (C) Admiral Willard spent February 4 with the Thai Chief of Defense Forces General Songkitti Jaggabatra observing Cobra Gold activities, including an amphibious assault landing on Thailand's eastern seaboard. This event highlighted the Republic of Korea's initial participation in the exercise. Defense Minister Prawit stressed that Cobra Gold was a key mechanism to improving the capability of Thai forces. Furthermore, Prawit said that Thailand viewed Cobra Gold as a vital means to promote multilateral cooperation and understanding within the region. As such, Thailand looked forward to continuing to promote openness in Cobra Gold. Prawit also stressed that the equipment, tactics, techniques, and procedures that the U.S. showcased during Cobra Gold were particularly important to Thailand. Admiral Willard agreed that Cobra Gold was important exercise for U.S. and the region, as it promoted understanding and interoperability among regional nations. Cobra Gold was not only valuable for promoting multilateral engagement, but U.S. forces were able to learn much from the exercise. As such, Cobra Gold was a unique exercise for PACOM. ¶10. (C) FM Kasit underscored the Defense Minister's sentiments, stating that the RTG was interested in including more regional partners into Cobra Gold in the future. By first adding nations as observers, trust could be built before considering whether to add additional participants, Kasit said. URGING MORE TIME FOR UNHCR EVALUATION OF KAREN -------------- - ¶11. (C) Admiral Willard told Defense Minister Prawit that the U.S. understood that Thailand was located in a difficult location with neighbors that presented the nation with significant border challenges. One such problem was with Burma, and Admiral Willard referenced reports that the Thai were planning that same day, February 5, to return to Burma displaced Karen who had been forced into Thailand following conflicts in Burma in June 2009. Admiral Willard stressed that it would be much appreciated by the international community if the RTG were to provide UNHCR with more time to interview the Karen to determine whether they were returning voluntarily. The Ambassador explained to Prawit that a quick return of the Karen would exacerbate international concern regarding Thai refugee policy, and stressed that providing UNHCR with more time to assess the Karen was the right thing to do. Both Admiral Willard and the Ambassador pushed the Minister to delay the return until the UNHCR could conduct a BANGKOK 00000411 003 OF 004 more thorough review of the cases. ¶12. (C) The Defense Minister said that Thailand's location within Southeast Asia resulted in the nation becoming a draw for displaced persons from neighboring countries. In addition, income disparities between Thailand and its neighbors added more pressure on the RTG. Prawit said that the RTG cooperated closely with UNHCR, and the Defense Minister committed to discussing the issue with the Thai NSC Secretary-General Tawin Pleansri after the meeting with Admiral Willard. (Note: Shortly after the meeting with Prawit, the Embassy received word that the return of the Karen had been postponed; the Bangkok Post reported February 6 that the operation had been suspended after a call from the Defense Ministry. End note.) ASSISTING THE THAI MILITARY'S DEVELOPMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) FM Kasit stressed to Admiral Willard the Thai military's modernization needs, and highlighted U.S. assistance as critical to addressing this issue. U.S. support was very important for building the Thai military's capacity, Kasit said. Among the areas that could be of significant assistance were improving human resource development and information technology connectivity within the Thai military. Kasit expressed distress that Thailand needed to request military equipment or excess defense articles (EDA) from the U.S.; however, Kasit stressed that U.S. assistance would be very valuable. In particular, FM Kasit stated that EDA frigates would benefit the Royal Thai Navy (RTN),as the RTG viewed countering piracy as an important priority, but efforts in this area were limited due to outdated RTN equipment. (Note: The RTN recently turned down a U.S. offer for the transfer of two frigates for fiscal year 2012 because the Thai Navy stated that it had neither the budget nor the training to support the frigates. End note.) ¶14. (C) In regards to EDA equipment, Admiral Willard told FM Kasit that PACOM would work hard to advocate for Thailand. That said, the U.S. Army and the Pentagon were assessing equipment that would come out of Iraq, and it was likely that excess equipment would not be available for several years. ¶15. (C) During a February 5 coffee hosted by the Ambassador, Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, Deputy Secretary General for Prime Minister Abhisit and Acting RTG Spokesperson, raised the RTG desire for increased U.S. security assistance, in particular help for the Royal Thai Navy as it developed a submarine capability. Admiral Willard asked for the Thai perspective on the need for submarines. Panitan said that the RTN naturally compared its capabilities with regional navies such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and China, all of whom possessed submarines. In addition, the RTN assessed that a small submarine capacity would provide Thailand with important strike capabilities. During the same coffee, Assistant Group Editor of the Nation Multimedia Group Kavi Chongkittavorn stressed to Admiral Willard that Thailand considered submarines critical due to the nations' trade routes, as well as its reliance on gas and oil platforms in the Gulf of Thailand. Panitan agreed with Kavi's assessment. ¶16. (C) Panitan highlighted technology transfers as increasingly important for the Thai military, and encouraged U.S. attention to this area. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) purchase of Gripens from Sweden was a prime example of this, according to Panitan. While the Gripen was not as proficient as the F-16, the overall technology package offered by the Swedes had appealed to the RTAF. According to Panitan, the PM's security adviser, the Thai military had received nearly one hundred scholarships for study in Sweden, important logistics technology, and advanced communication systems with the Gripen package. Panitan also said that both Australia and New Zealand were providing Thailand with modern technology for use in counter-insurgency efforts in southern Thailand. This was valuable, as the RTA could not afford the technology needed for these efforts. DEVELOPMENT OF A THAI COAST GUARD BANGKOK 00000411 004 OF 004 -------------- ¶17. (C) Several Thai officials raised with Admiral Willard RTG plans to develop a Coast Guard and expressed hope that the U.S. could assist this effort with training. FM Kasit highlighted that increased International Military Education and Training (IMET) funding for Thailand was important, as these courses could advance Thai plans for a Coast Guard. Admiral Willard suggested that the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School could assist with Thai plans to develop the Coast Guard. Admiral Willard told Kasit that he would advocate for increased IMET funding for Thailand whenever possible. ¶18. (C) Dr. Panitan also told Admiral Willard that PM Abhisit considered the development of a Coast Guard important, particularly after Thailand was criticized following the pushback of Rohingya boat people by local defense volunteers in early 2009. U.S. guidance and assistance in the Thai effort to develop a Coast Guard would be much appreciated. Admiral Willard suggested that Thailand may want to consider analyzing the separate legal authorities that provided for the U.S. Coast Guard and its independence from the U.S. Navy. ¶19. (U) Admiral Willard cleared this cable. JOHN