The Defense Department announced Saturday it had canceled ongoing military exercises with Thailand as a result of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, according to Reuters.
The Pentagon said in a statement it had called off its annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with Thailand, part of a series of events between the Navy and eight regional navies to help them work together, Reuters reported.
"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and U.S. law require us to reconsider U.S. military assistance and engagements," said Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby, Reuters reported.
There were 700 U.S. troops participating in the annual naval exercises, which include sailors, marines, ships and aircraft, according to Reuters.
Kirby said the Pentagon was also canceling the June visit of the Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris to Thailand and is withdrawing the invitation to the commander general of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to visit U.S. Pacific Command in June, Reuters reported.
The Pentagon said it "will continue to review additional engagements as necessary until such time that events in Thailand no longer demand it," a possible reference to the annual "Cobra Gold" Thai-U.S. co-sponsored joint and multinational exercise, according to Reuters.
The U.S. urged Thailand's 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," according to Reuters.
The State Department said it scrubbed a U.S.-sponsored firearms training program in Thailand for the Royal Thai Police that was to begin Monday, Reuters reported.
A U.S. government-sponsored study trip to the United States for some Royal Thai Police officers scheduled for June, according to Reuters. The agenda included visits to FBI facilities and meetings with U.S. law enforcement officials.
