Updated December 13, 2018
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Overview
Thaskin was, and still is, a divisive figure, and his critics
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
accuse him of corruption and human rights abuses. Since
of the United States. Despite these enduring ties, more than
2001, Thaksin and his supporters have won all six national
a decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two
elections, but their leaders have repeatedly been removed
military coups, in 2006 and 2014, has complicated U.S.-
from office, either by military coup or court order. (The
Thai relations and erased Thailand’s image as a model
2014 coup deposed an acting prime minister after Thaksin’s
democracy in Southeast Asia. In October 2016, Thailand’s
sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted from the
political landscape was further rattled when Crown Prince
premiership by a Constitutional Court decision that many
Maha Vajiralongkorn became the country’s new sovereign.
observers saw as politically motivated.) During this period
He succeeded his widely revered father, King Bhumiphol
of instability, Thailand has seen numerous large-scale
Adulyadej, who was, when he died, the world’s longest
demonstrations, and some have turned violent. In 2010,
reigning monarch and considered a stabilizing force.
clashes over several weeks killed 80 civilians in Bangkok.
Thailand has been run by a military government since the
2014 coup, and its leaders, under Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha, have rewritten Thailand’s constitution in ways
that protect the military’s political influence in the future.
Many observers have criticized the regime’s human rights
record, including its harassment of government critics and
restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. After
more than four years of military rule, the government has
called for nationwide elections on February 24, 2019, and
lifted some of the harshest restrictions on assembly for the
campaign, but many believe the political changes of recent
years will limit the nation’s return to democracy.
The United States suspended security assistance to Thailand
The 2014 coup was Thailand’s 12th successful coup since
after the 2014 coup as required by law, but many other
1932. It installed then-Army Commander Prayuth as prime
aspects of the U.S.-Thai military relationship remain,
minister and head of the military junta known as the
including the annual Cobra Gold military exercise, the
National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Although
largest multilateral exercise in Asia. The United States
Prayuth declared an end to martial law in April 2015, the
continues to provide non-security aid to the country, and
junta has retained authoritarian powers, including under a
maintains regional offices for many U.S. programs at the
new Constitution approved by Thai voters in 2016 that was
Embassy in Bangkok.
later signed into law, with a few revisions, by the new King.
The new Constitution limits the power of political parties. It
As one of the region’s more developed nations, Thailand
also gives the military the ability to indirectly appoint
has the potential to support U.S. initiatives in the region,
members to an upper house that will, along with an elected
such as broadening regional defense cooperation. However,
lower house, select the country’s prime ministers.
Bangkok’s domestic problems and the resulting damage to
International observers will likely scrutinize the upcoming
U.S.-Thai relations have diminished opportunities for new
polls for any irregularities or suppression. Over the past two
bilateral coordination. An October 2017 visit by Prayuth to
decades, Thailand has held mostly free and fair elections,
Washington, DC, which included a meeting with President
although corruption and vote-buying have been prevalent.
Trump, produced little concrete result, although it indicated
that the Trump Administration hopes to maintain steady
After the 2014 coup, the United States immediately
relations with the military regime.
suspended military aid to Thailand, including $3.5 million
in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $85,000 in
Thailand’s Political Crisis
International Military Education and Training (IMET)
Thailand’s political turmoil has involved a broad clash
funds. However, the United States has not suspended non-
between the nation’s political establishment (a mix of the
military aid, and humanitarian assistance to the country
military, royalists, senior bureaucrats, and many urban and
largely has continued. In February 2018, USAID committed
middle class citizens) and backers of former Prime Minister
$10 million to curtail human trafficking in Thailand. The
Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup
annual Cobra Gold military exercise also has gone ahead. In
and who resides overseas. Thaksin was popular, particularly
the years immediately after the coup, fewer U.S. troops
with the rural poor, because of his populist policies—some
participated in the exercise than in previous years, but the
of which have been adopted by the military regime. Yet,
scale of U.S. participation grew in 2018, and in another sign
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
of warming relations, Defense Secretary James Mattis met
U.S.-Thai Trade and Economic Relations
with Prawit Wongsuwan, Thaland’s Defense Minister,
Thailand is an upper middle-income country, and trade and
twice in 2018, in April and October.
foreign investment play a large role in its economy. In
2018, Thailand’s GDP is estimated to grow at 3.6%,
Royal Succession
continuing a period of comparatively slow growth. The
The monarchy is one of Thailand’s most powerful political
United States is Thailand’s third largest trading partner,
institutions. It has few formal authorities, but during King
behind Japan and China. In 2017, Thailand was the United
Bhumiphol Adulyadej’s reign, the institution enjoyed
States’ 21st largest goods trading partner; its 26th largest
popular support and, in turn, political influence. In October
goods export market; and a source of $42 billion in total
2016, King Bhumiphol passed away, ending a 70-year reign
two-way goods trade. In 2017, the United States ran a $20
that had made him the world’s longest serving monarch.
billion trade deficit with Thailand, ranking Thailand as the
After his accession to the throne, Bhumiphol’s son Maha
country with the 11th largest bilateral surplus with the
Vajiralongkorn, officially known as King Rama X, has been
United States. In 2017, USTR placed Thailand on its
more actively politically, opposing some parts of the 2016
Priority Watch List because of the country’s poor
Constitution, particularly the requirement that he appoint a
intellectual property rights protection and enforcement.
regent if traveling overseas, and taking control of the
bureau managing the throne’s fortune in July 2017.
Thailand’s Regional Relations
Thailand’s importance for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia
King Bhumiphol rarely interfered in politics in his later
stems from its large economy, its good relations with its
years, but had generally been seen as a moderating force
neighbors, and, until the coups, its relatively long-standing
who sought to foster stability among the country’s different
democratic rule. However, because of Thailand’s ongoing
political actors. The new king is much less popular than his
political turmoil, the government has been preoccupied with
father, and his political inclinations less certain. If the
domestic politics and has not played a leadership role in
palace becomes a weaker institution, many political
regional initiatives, especially those relating to human
observers believe that competition between other powers,
trafficking and mediating maritime disputes. Historically,
including the military, elected leaders, and the bureaucracy,
Sino-Thai ties have been close. Unlike several of its
may lead to further political instability. The military, in
Southeast Asian neighbors, Thailand has no formal
particular, has played a major role in supporting royal
territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. Thai
legitimacy, and it may continue to do so. Since the 2014
imports from China have boomed under the China-ASEAN
coup, as the military government has sought to limit
Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 2010.
political criticism, it has enforced Thailand’s lese-majeste
laws, which forbid insults to the monarch, more broadly.
Human Rights and Democracy Concerns
International groups, some Members of Congress, and U.S.
U.S.-Thailand Security Relations
officials have criticized Thailand’s alleged human rights
Security cooperation has long been the strongest pillar of
abuses, including arbitrary arrests and the lack of
the U.S.-Thai relationship. In addition to hosting military
protections for trafficking victims, laborers, and refugees.
exercises, such as Cobra Gold, Thailand has provided the
International groups have also identified human rights
U.S. military with access to important facilities, particularly
violations in the Muslim-majority southern provinces where
the strategically located Utapao airbase. The U.S. military
there is an ongoing insurgency that has killed over 7,000
used Utapao for refueling operations during its campaigns
people since 2004. In its 2018 Trafficking in Persons report,
in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s, as well as for
the State Department ranked Thailand as a Tier 2 country,
multinational relief efforts, including after the 2004 Indian
an improvement over recent years. Thailand has argued that
Ocean tsunami and 2015 Nepal earthquake. For U.S.
human smuggling, not trafficking, is the main cross-border
officials, intelligence and law enforcement cooperation with
issue. Although there is a distinction (smuggling involves
Thai counterparts remains a priority, particularly as the
illegal, but voluntary, cross-border movements),
United States confronts international criminal and drug
undocumented migrants are often vulnerable to exploitation
networks. In the past, transnational terrorist organizations
by smugglers—which may be tantamount to trafficking.
have taken advantage of Thailand’s relatively permissive
environment, including tourist-friendly travel procedures
Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention
and central location, for their operations in the region.
or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a formal national
asylum framework. In 2016, the United Nations High
Before the most recent coup, U.S. military leaders touted
Commissioner for Refugees reported that Thailand hosted
the alliance as apolitical and praised the Thai armed forces
599,459 refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless people,
for exhibiting restraint amidst the competing protests and
among others.
political turmoil. However, the coup put the Thai army at
the center of politics, in spite of years of U.S. training about
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
the importance of civilian control of the military. After the
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
United States suspended military assistance and cancelled
Wil Mackey, Research Assistant
some exercises, several analysts noted that U.S.-Thai
security ties could weaken, and that Sino-Thai ties could
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expand. In June 2017, the Thai government announced it
would buy 34 Chinese armored personnel carriers, perhaps
in an attempt to reduce its reliance on U.S.-made weapons.
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
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