Last week, Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov, commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, paid a 3-day visit to Thailand. Reporting on the visit, the first of its kind in a decade, has been extremely sparse. That has left experts wondering whether Bangkok is considering the purchase of Russian T-90 tanks to replace its canceled order of Ukrainian T-84s.
During Salyukov's trip, which started Wednesday and wrapped up on Friday, the senior officer met with high-ranking Thai Defense officials, and visited Royal Thai Army facilities, including a mechanized section and a counterterrorism training center.
Reporting on the trip has been scant, with Russian media limiting their
coverage to official announcements at the start and the end of the visit. Among the few details that emerged was news that the Russian officer had been gifted a badge and beret by Thailand's special forces. Salyukov was also said to have an entry into the book of condolences over the death of King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away last fall.
The Russian Embassy in Bangkok has been similarly tightlipped, telling reporters only that "the two sides discussed the current state and prospects for military and military-technical cooperation."
Russian-Thai security and defense cooperation has been on the rise in recent years. Last spring, the two countries signed a military cooperation agreement. Russia has also committed to supply two Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet airliners for use by the Thai Air Force. Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon made two visits to Russia over the last year. This summer, for the first time ever, a Thai unit will participate in the 2017 International Army Games. Talks have also been about sending Thai officers to study in Russian military institutions.
But what seems to have piqued the interest of observers about the visit was what wasn't said. In his analysis on the subject, military observer Sergei Ishchenko
pointed out that it was curious for the Russian commander, undoubtedly busy with the war in Syria, NATO's buildup on Russia's borders, and other important issues, to make the long trip to Southeast Asia just for a goodwill visit.
Accordingly, Ishchenko noted, "it's natural to assume that in fact, something more important may have been discussed behind closed doors…But what exactly? The only reasonable theory, in my opinion, is money – and lots of money; for something less it would not have been worth sending such a high-ranking commander to the country."
The question that follows is: money for what? What kinds of weapons does Russia have which Bangkok may be interested in?
Here, the observer recalled the story from earlier this year about the Thai Defense Ministry's decision to terminate its contract with Ukraine on the purchase of several dozen T-84 Oplot main battle tanks.
Bangkok
canceled the $240 million contract with Kiev in January following never-ending setbacks with the tanks' delivery. The Thai Defense Ministry had planned to make the T-84 the backbone of its tank forces, replacing its stock of 1950s' vintage US M-41s. Unfortunately, although the contract was signed in 2011, and had been meant to be completed by 2014, by the end of last year, Ukraine had supplied Thailand with only 20 of the promised 49 tanks.
T-84 Oplot, seen here in desert camo, being guided onto a tank transporter. File photo.
Covering the story, Thai media reported that the country now plans to buy the VT-4, a third generation Chinese MBT built by heavy machinery manufacturer Norinco.
Bankok apparently already has a contract with Norinco for 28 VT-4s.
But according to Ishchenko, Bangkok may still be considering Russian tanks as well, hence Col. Gen. Salyukov's visit. Specifically, the expert noted, Thailand would be looking at Russia's T-90, either in its T-90S or T-90MS variant. The price of 50 such tanks would amount to about $251 million.
Ishchenko suggested that it's the T-90s' active-combat 'testing' in Syria that turned it into an alluring prospect for Thai generals. "I'm confident that events in Syria were the turning point for the mood of the Thai military," he wrote.
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