It’s to be assumed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his advisers are taking full advantage of the delay in his planned visit to Washington. The Thai government interpreted Trump’s phone call to Prayut in April as a tacit blessing of his military rule, which had so irked the Obama administration. The invitation to Washington was regarded as apolicy shift, an indicator that Washington no longer minds the abandonment of electoral democracy here. Bilateral relations under the Trump administration are to be based on economic and strategic interests, not piddling matters such as democracy, rights and freedoms. Prayut is making a shopping list ahead of his trip to the White House, which so far includes more Black Hawk helicopters for the Army.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 10, 2017 18:00 UTC