- By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist
Thailand‘s powerful army chief, Prayuth, just told local reporters yesterday, that the Thai army would like to purchase 50 to 60 modern main battle tanks to replace old tanks.
Prayuth said however, that he understands the tight budget situation with the government, and would hold back his request.
“If the government supports the Thai military, that would be beneficial to Thailand’s defense…..But if the government has no budget, I understand,” said Prayuth.
- Details and confirmation is very difficult to get, however, under the previous government of Abhisit, Prayuth tabled for Abhisit, a project to build up a new mechanize armoured division in the E-Sarn region, that is adjacent to Cambodia.
This new division, is said to be a long time dream of the all-powerful in Thailand, privy council Prem. In fact, Prem told senior Thai military figures, that this new division would see him rest in peace, when is no longer living.
Under Abhisit, budget began to flow to this division, and the new division head quarter took roots. It is un-clear, how much weaponry have been bought for this new division, or what had been filtered to it, from other divisions.
Yet, when Yingluck won the election, she made a visit to the Thai military academy meeting, to give the academy her policy on national security.
- At the academy meeting, attended by high-ranking Thai generals, the academy told Yingluck, quote: “Thailand requires more air and sea power.”
There has been much analysis done on Thailand’s defense spending-with the Thai army, taking the lions share of the spending-not because it is the largest branch of the armed forces, but also because of its political clout.
- However, clearly, the Thai military academy has a point.
With the military forces making up ASEAN, spending more and more on air and sea power-Prayuth, clearly needs to re-examine the priority of Thailand’s military spending.
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