US to resume arms sales to Thailand: Deputy Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced that the US has agreed to resume selling weapons to the Thai government.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, on 3 October 2017 told the media after a meeting in which he represented the junta leader and PM, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, that the US has agreed to resume selling weapons to Thailand after the 2014 coup d’état halted sales.

He added that an arms procurement deal made by the military under the previous civilian administration was suspended after the coup. The regime had to resort to buying weapons from other countries.

When asked to specify what the regime would buy and when, the Deputy PM said it is up to the military to make a proposal to the government, which will then be considered by the cabinet.

According to the Thai News Agency, the junta leader declared during his official visit to the US that the election date will be announced next year.

Gen Prayut said US President Donald Trump did not ask about the election, but it was he who initiated the conversation in which he stated that Thailand will stick to the political roadmap towards democracy.

3 October 2017, Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the organic bill on the election of members of parliament will be finished by the end of November. It will then be sent to the National Legislative Assembly for consideration.

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha meeting Donald Trump, the 45th and current President of the US (Photo from the Thai Government House Website)

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