On February 12, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had a bilateral discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This meeting took place as part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s official visit to the U.S., following an invitation extended by the Secretary. During the meeting, Secretary Blinken emphasized the long-standing ties between the U.S. and Thailand. The two countries celebrated 190 years of diplomatic relations by reaffirming their commitment to advancing the U.S.-Thai alliance and fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Blinken highlighted the upcoming U.S.-Thailand Strategic and Defense Dialogue on February 28-29 as a significant step forward in strengthening the alliance and partnership. The two sides explored new opportunities to strengthen cooperation across various bilateral and global issues. Discussions of regional and global issues included conflicts in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine as well as Thailand’s efforts to address the worsening crisis in Myanmar. Thailand Deputy Prime Minister sought U.S. support for Thailand’s candidacy for membership in the UN Human Rights Council and emphasized the importance of cybersecurity cooperation with the U.S.
Secretary Blinken underscored the U.S. commitment to increasing collaboration on trade and investment, deepening people-to-people ties, broadening security cooperation, and advancing the implementation of the U.S. - ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Simultaneously, the Royal Thai Government highlighted the strengthening of Thailand’s longstanding security ties with the U.S. and identified new opportunities as Thailand transitions its economy to a green and digital economy. At the regional level, Thailand continues to serve as a facilitator for U.S. engagement in the region to promote common peace, security, and prosperity. In this regard, Thailand remains committed to continue collaborating with the U.S. through ASEAN, the development of Mekong subregion, and the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Thailand Deputy Prime Minister also met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and her team during this visit. Secretary Raimondo highlighted Thailand’s significant role in IPEF and discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment cooperation. Secretary Raimondo is scheduled to visit the Philippines and Thailand in March 2024, aiming to underscore the close economic cooperation the U.S. has with its partners in the region.
