Effect of Thai-U.S. joint combined exchange training on Thai security units during the Obama doctrine era

ผลกระทบของการแลกเปลี่ยนการฝึกอบรมร่วมกันของไทย-สหรัฐอเมริกาต่อหน่วยงานด้านความมั่นคงของไทยในยุคหลักการโอบามา

Name: Ronald Garberson

ThaSH: Thailand -- Foreign relations -- United States

Classification :.DDC: 327.730593

ThaSH: United States -- Foreign relations -- Thailand

Abstract: Under the 2011 Obama Doctrine "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific, the United States sought to reallocate its global strategic focus to solidify its partner-nation relationships and influence in this region. Within Southeast Asia, the U.S. is looking to support Thailand to emerge as a renewed regional leader and a strong ally. This has occurred simultaneously as China attempts to expand its influence through establishing bilateral and multilateral partnerships with its Southeast Asian neighbors, to include Thailand. This study recognizes the significance of the changing international relations dynamics of the region as driving the need for Thailand to reevaluate its security cooperation partnering strategy, namely its proportion of engagement between the U.S. and China. Since the U.S. has traditionally been a close security cooperation ally with Thailand, it is critical to objectively assess the utility of the U.S.-Thai security cooperation program to make a positive contribution to Thai security forces capacity. As one of the most important mechanisms for the implementation of national security cooperation policy, the Joint Combined Exchange Training program will serve as the focus of this investigation. This thesis centers on how the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) events, as a principal implementation tool of security cooperation policy between the U.S. and Thailand, have impacted the security capacity of the Thai security units during the Obama Doctrine era. The objectives of this research were accomplished through both documentary research focused on framing the evolution of U.S.-Thai security cooperation and the JCET program, and then via the results of my interviews with security personnel who have had a key role in the JCET programs. The results of this analysis demonstrated that the Obama Doctrine Era U.S.­ Thai JCET program has greatly contributed to the growth of Thai security capacity, but there are still many areas in which the U.S. must improve if it is to remain a desirable security partner for Thailand. Currently, many other nations are expanding their frequency and depth of security cooperation relations with Thailand. This has led to a more competitive environment where each nation, to include the U.S., must adapt to optimize their value added to Thailand. In order for the U.S. to remain a valued partner of Thailand, this research showed that there are three primary categories of Thai-U.S. JCET effects that need to be optimized: tactical military capabilities and equipment, Thai-U.S. security forces relations and support, and military leadership competencies. Each of these effects categories have been crucial to the growth of Thai security capacity and should be placed at the center of future security cooperation engagements. By reflecting on the objectives and implementation of this JCET program, we can modify its implementation to meet the current security needs of the participating units._ This analysis also helps Thailand determine how to expand their network of security partners via cooperative training similar to the JCET program. In addition to partnerships with the U.S., it is beneficial for Thailand to pursue security engagement with multiple nations, especially with other Asian nations. Greater integration reduces the chance of conflict and increases the opportunity for collective action to combat common threats. The danger of not conducting studies like this is that key leaders can become stagnant and complacent in their mode of execution of the JCET, ultimately failing to evolve with the changing security environment. It is only through the continual use of feedback, such as that contained in this study, that a nation can hope to remain prepared to defeat threats to its security.

Chiang Mai University. Library

Address: CHIANG MAI

Email: cmulibref@cmu.ac.th

Name: Pittaya Suvakunta

Role: Chairman

Name: Kosum Saichan

Role: Member

Name: Usamard Siampukdee

Role: Member

Created: 2015

Modified: 2023-01-22

Issued: 2023-01-22

วิทยานิพนธ์/Thesis

application/pdf

CallNumber: Th 327.730593 G213E

eng

DegreeName: Master of arts

Descipline: Southeast Asian Studies

Grantor: Chiang Mai University

©copyrights Chiang Mai University

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