Thailand-US defense ties heal as China makes gains in Cambodia

Delivery of armored vehicles comes as Washington frets over Beijing's dominance

20190918 US tank Stryker with 30mm cannon

Thailand expects to take possession of 140 Stryker armored vehicles from the U.S., which is to hand over more than 50 of the personnel carriers for free. © AP

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

September 18, 2019 13:08 JST

BANGKOK -- Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, Thailand's powerful army chief, is shifting the kingdom's security architecture, and U.S. military equipment is helping to lay the groundwork.

A recent announcement that Thailand had taken delivery of the first 10 of more than 100 armored vehicles from America affirmed that the decades-old allies are again warming up to each other, after Thailand's military coup in 2014 chilled the relationship.