Page 60 - The Cormorant 2018

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Regional Security Exercise 2 – Ways Module – Thailand Wg Cdr Lisa Mullineux
FOR THIRTY LUCKY ACSC21 staff and students, RSE 2 was staged over 5 days in Bangkok and hosted by the Defence Attaché, Lt Col
Roger Lewis, his Research Assistant, Ms Suthathip (Tebby) Saranith, and his Military Assistant, FS Del Marx.
On the face of it, Thailand may not seem an obvious choice for an RSE with its world-renowned beaches and nightlife, however, with a growing emphasis on South East Asia in the UK (SDSR15) and subsequent National Security Capability Review in 2017, this is
a region which is likely to feature more prominently in future UK Defence Engagement. Indeed, the
establishment of the Asia-Pacific Regional British Defence Staff in Singapore in 2017 is one
initiative to meet this aspiration.
Pre-briefs from International Policy and Plans,
the Thai Embassy in the UK, and the UK Defence Concepts and Doctrine Centre provided excellent
scene-setters for the trip, whetting our appetite for what was to come. The
varied in-country programme included British Embassy briefings, meetings with various elements of the Royal
Thai Armed Forces (RTAF), cultural visits and a wash-up panel discussion in the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. The level of effort expended by the
RTAF in supporting our visit was impressive, including a formal reception hosted by the Chief of Defence Forces, General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan.
Common to all the briefs was the impact that the current uncertain political situation is having on the country. On 22 May 2014, the Royal Thai Army conducted a coup against the interim government, immediately establishing martial law. Despite several promises, the current leadership is yet to set a date for a democratic election and this political situation is a key driver for the way the UK is currently engaging