US, Thailand sign defense alliance pact

The United States and Thailand signed on Thursday a "Joint Vision Statement" for Thai-U.S. defense alliance with intent to maintain peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his Thai counterpart ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat signed the agreement at the headquarters of the Thai Defense Ministry. Panetta, who is currently on his official tour to Southeast Asian countries, will be followed here on Sunday by U.S. President Barack Obama who will meet with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House. Both are scheduled to leave for Myanmar next Monday and then for Cambodia to attend an ASEAN summit. The U.S. defense secretary announced in a press conference that the government has been committed to the developing and strengthening of the Thai-U.S. defense alliance, because, he said, Thailand is a "great ally" of the United States since the last five decades. Thailand is one of the five countries in the Asia-Pacific categorized as a strategic ally of the United States. The other U. S. allies in the region include Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines. The Thai and U.S. military forces conduct a joint military exercise, codenamed Cobra Gold, in Thailand annually. It has been participated and observed by military forces of several other ASEAN countries.