Pentagon cancels military exercise, visits after Thai coup

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Saturday canceled an ongoing military exercise and planned official visits after Thailand's army seized power in a coup.

"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and US law require us to reconsider US military assistance and engagements," spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement.

Thailand's army said Thursday it had taken power in a coup after months of unrest and deadly political violence, provoking an international outcry.

The Pentagon said it canceled the Cooperation of Afloat Readiness and Training exercise, which involve several hundred US Marines and sailors. It began Monday and was due to run for a week.

The scrapped visits involve two planned for June one to Thailand by US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris and another to the US Pacific Command in Hawaii by the commander of the Thai Armed Forces.

"It is important that the Royal Thai Armed Forces end this coup and restore to the people of Thailand both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections," Kirby said.

"We urge the Royal Thai Armed Forces to act in the best interests of their fellow citizens by ending this coup and restoring the rule of law and the freedoms assured those citizens through democratic principles."

The US military has long-standing ties to Thailand's armed forces, dating back to the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Word of the cancelations comes on the heels of an announcement by Washington Friday that it had suspended $3.5 million in military assistance to its oldest treaty-bound ally in Asia.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States was reviewing the rest of US aid to Thailand which totaled some $10.5 million in 2013 to look for further cuts.

The Pentagon on Saturday warned of potentially more cuts. "We will continue to review additional engagements as necessary until such time that events in Thailand no longer demand it," Kirby said.