US President Donald Trump hosts Thailand’s junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha at White House

President Donald Trump hosts the Thailand’s junta leader at the White House on Oct. 2, a rare instance of a military ruler being feted in Washington before even a nominal return to civilian rule. (AP)

President Donald Trump hosts Thailand’s junta leader at the White House today. It’s a rare instance of a military ruler being feted in Washington before even a nominal return to civilian rule. The visit of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha comes three years after he seized power in a military coup, and days after the elected leader whose government he ousted was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.

Human rights groups are outraged, but it gives a shot in the arm to US relations with its oldest ally in Asia, which has moved more into China’s orbit since Washington scaled back ties because of the military takeover.