Thailand to shrink rank of Generals amid conscription debate; new govt to cut military spending

BANGKOK, June 1 (Bloomberg): Thailand will slash the number of army generals by 50% over the next four years, according to the nation’s defence ministry, amid a pledge by a coalition of pro-democracy parties that won the May election to end conscription and reduce military spending.

By 2027, the ministry will halve the number of army generals from about 1,200 now, and reduce the number of soldiers by 12,000, said Jittanat Punnotok, the ministry’s deputy spokesman. The moves can save nearly 3 billion baht ($86 million) in annual defense budget, he said.