Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will lead a Thai delegation to visit to the US next week, at the invitation of the Pentagon, said Ministry of Defence spokesman Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich.
On this visit from April 21-27, which marks the first official visit by the Thai defence minister to the US in over a decade, Gen Prawit is scheduled to talk to US Defence Secretary James Mattis, to enhance military cooperation and the security strategy of both countries.
Gen Prawit will also meet Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Claire Grady, said Gen Kongcheep. The spokesman said this visit will mark the reaffirmation of longstanding relations between Thailand and the US.
After the military coup in 2014, Thailand and the US under President Obama underwent a phase of stagnation in their relations. But under President Trump, relations were slowly reestablished when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid an official visit to Thailand last August. Last October, President Trump invited Prime Minister Prayut to the White House.
Stalled military ties have also been revitalised under President Trump, following Washington's shift of focus to the Asia-Pacific. That was given a push last year by Mr Mattis during the Asean Summit in Singapore where he said he looked forward to "expanding military cooperation with the country."
Last year, the US Defence Secretary also led a delegation as President Donald Trump's special envoy to attend the royal cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.