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US cancels military exercises with Thailand

International Desk |
Update: 2014-05-24 22:48:00
US cancels military exercises with Thailand

DHAKA: The United States has cancelled a joint military training exercise with Thailand, visits by top military officers and a police training programme over the country's military coup.

The steps, announced by the US Departments of State and Defense on Saturday, are intended to show Washington's disapproval of the events in Thailand, whose army chief seized control of the government on Thursday, two days after declaring martial law.

The Pentagon said in a statement it had called off its annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with Thailand, part of a series of events between the US Navy and eight regional navies to help them work together.

It also said it had cancelled a planned June visit to Thailand by US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris and cancelled an invitation to the Royal Thai Armed Forces commander general to visit the US Pacific Command next month.

The Pentagon said it "will continue to review additional engagements as necessary until such time that events in Thailand no longer demand it," in a possible reference to the annual "Cobra Gold" Thai-US co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise usually held in January or February.

The State Department, which typically oversees US law enforcement cooperation abroad, said it cancelled a police firearms training program scheduled to begin on Monday and a visit by senior Thai police officers to the United States.

Source: Al-jazeera

BDST: 0838 HRS, MAY 25, 2014

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