Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper speaks at a bilateral meeting with Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Bangkok, Thailand, November 16, 2019.
Transcript
[Announcer] Next I would like to kindly invite General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Secretary Mark Esper to the front of the stage for the official exchanges of the Joint Vision Statement and photography session please. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a big round of applause.
We now invite General Chan-o-cha to deliver the remarks followed by Secretary Mark Esper please.
I am pleased to welcome Secretary Mark Esper. It is an honor that we have signed the Joint Vision Statement as defense allies today. I am certain that this Joint Vision Statement will further enhance the alliance and strategy partnership between our two countries.
The relationship between the kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America, which are consistent for over 200 years, reflects the longstanding friendship between us. Moreover, Thai’s status as a NATO ally has also advanced and strengthened our bilateral relations. Therefore, please be assured Thailand will continue to be your reliable ally.
Prime Minister Prayut, thank you for welcoming me here to the kingdom of Thailand on my first visit to your country as Secretary of Defense.
[Announcer] Thank you very much your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen and that concludes today’s ceremony. Thank you very much.
I thought he was going to translate. I greatly appreciate Thailand’s role in hosting this year’s ADMM-Plus and thank you for serving as this year’s ASEAN Chair. Our two nations share a deep history and maintain a strong and durable friendship for the past 200 years. Together, we possess a vision for defense cooperation that advances our mutual security for the long term, that preserves regional stability, and that builds our shared interests and values. Today’s signing of Joint Vision 2020 reaffirms our mutual commitment to a US-Thai Alliance and to a future of even deeper cooperation. In Joint Vision 2020, we chart a course for increased interoperability, forced modernization, information sharing, and expanded exercises and training. This vision demonstrates our determination as an alliance to be more active together in the region to advance our mutual security interests. The Indo-Pacific remains the United States’ number one priority region, we are committed to supporting our allies and partners here to ensure that all nations have the opportunity to pursue security and prosperity, free from external coercion and intimidation. It is important that we work together to uphold international rules-based order that has enabled our shared security for decades. We believe ASEAN is central to this effort and we are grateful to Thailand for its leadership all this year to include co-hosting the first ever US-ASEAN maritime exercise last month. We also appreciate Thailand’s serving as a co-chair with the United States with the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security. This is an important venue for improving interoperability among Southeast Asian nations and preserving the security and openness of vital international waterways. We must continue to protect the rights of all nations by promoting freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the seas. I’m pleased with the direction that our bilateral relationship is heading as exemplified by Joint Vision 2020. It’s clear that the United States and Thailand are allies who have a common interest in peace, stability, and prosperity. Our militaries, and our nations have much to gain from our continued work together. Thank you again Prime Minister Prayut for the productive meeting this morning. I look forward to our continued discussions throughout the next two days. Thank you.
[Announcer] Thank you very much Secretary of Defense.