UK Chief of Defence Staff visits Thailand to strengthen military relations
UK Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, arrived in Thailand on a three day visit at the invitation of General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces.
During the visit General Houghton attended the opening ceremony of the Defence and Security Asia Exhibition in Bangkok, and met Thailand’s Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
General Houghton discussed with General Tanasak opportunities for strengthening the UK-Thailand military relationship. This could include joint military training and exercises, senior visits and exchanges, and wider UK-Thai defence cooperation. The two Chiefs also discussed the appointment of a Resident UK Defence Attaché in Thailand.
General Houghton said,
I am delighted to announce that the UK has appointed Colonel Chris Luckham as Resident Defence Attaché in Thailand. We will reopen our Defence Section in Bangkok on 3 December 2013.
Her Majesty’s Ship DARING will visit Thailand in early 2014, the first such visit since 2005. The UK intends to use the ship’s visit to reach out to a wide spectrum of Thai society, including schoolchildren, the business community as well as the Government and the Armed Forces. At the same time as the HMS DARING visit is the visit by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, to Thailand. These are important milestones in UK-Thai bilateral defence relationship and proof positive that the UK values its defence and security ties with Thailand.
Further information
UK Trade & Investment Thailand
Follow British Ambassador Mark Kent on twitter @KentBKK
Last updated 6 November 2013 + show all updates
-
Added translation
-
First published.