Updated June 25, 2019
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Overview
2011, Thaksin and his supporters won six consecutive
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
national elections, but their leaders were repeatedly
of the United States. These ties endure, but more than a
removed from office, by either military or judicial coup.
decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two
The 2014 military coup deposed an acting prime minister
military coups in 2006 and 2014, has complicated U.S.-
after Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted
Thai relations and erased Thailand’s image as a model
from the premiership by a Constitutional Court decision
democracy in Southeast Asia.
that many observers saw as politically motivated. During
this period of instability, Thailand has seen numerous large-
Thailand conducted nationwide elections in March 2019—
scale demonstrations, and some have turned violent. In
its first since 2011—and in June seated a new government
2010, clashes over several weeks killed 80 civilians in
led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former
Bangkok.
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army who led the
2014 coup. The polls were conducted under new rules
Thailand
drafted by the junta that structurally protect the military’s
influence, and questions remain about the new
Capital: Bangkok
government’s popular legitimacy. The military government
Size: Slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
also rewrote Thailand’s constitution to create a military-
Population: 68.6 mil ion (July 2018 est.)
appointed Senate, and was widely criticized for harassment
Infant Mortality: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
of government critics and severe restrictions on freedom of
Fertility Rate: 1.52 children born/woman (U.S.=1.72)
expression and assembly.
GDP (official exchange rate): $455.4 bil ion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita (PPP): $17,900 (2017 est.)
The United States suspended security assistance to Thailand
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2018
after the 2014 coup as required by law, but other aspects of
the U.S.-Thai military relationship remain, including the
annual Cobra Gold military exercise, the largest multilateral
The 2014 coup was Thailand’s 12th successful coup since
exercise in Asia. The United States continues to provide
1932. It installed then-Army Commander Prayuth as prime
non-security aid to the country, and maintains regional
minister and head of the military junta. Although Prayuth
offices for many U.S. programs at the Embassy in Bangkok.
declared an end to martial law in April 2015, the junta
retained authoritarian powers under the new Constitution
As one of Southeast Asia’s most developed nations,
approved by Thai voters in 2016 that was later signed into
Thailand has the potential to support U.S. initiatives, such
law by the King. The new Constitution limits the power of
as broadening regional defense cooperation. Thailand is the
political parties and gives the military the ability to appoint
2019 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
members to an upper house that along with the elected
(ASEAN), and as such is to convene and lead the region’s
lower house selects the prime minister.
key multilateral forums this year. However, Bangkok’s
domestic challenges and the resulting damage to U.S.-Thai
In the March 2019 polls, voting ran smoothly overall. The
relations have diminished opportunities for new bilateral
Election Commission of Thailand, however, received
coordination. Following the 2019 polls, U.S. policymakers
widespread criticism when irregularities such as releasing
face challenges in rekindling the bilateral relationship while
inconsistent and delayed results occurred, raising
encouraging Thailand to fully return to democratic norms.
skepticism about the credibility of the elections. Poll
statistics, such as voter turnout in comparison to the number
Thailand’s Politics and Elections
of ballots cast, fluctuated in the days after the election. As
Thailand’s political turmoil has involved a broad clash
poll results continued to change, Prayuth’s military-backed
between the nation’s political establishment (a mix of the
party and the opposing pro-democratic Thaksin faction both
military, royalists, senior bureaucrats, and many urban and
claimed to have won enough votes to form a coalition
middle class citizens) and backers of former Prime Minister
government. Official results were released on May 9, and
Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup
Prayuth’s party was able to form a coalition government in
and now resides overseas. Thaksin was popular, particularly
Parliament by a narrow margin. Prayuth was officially
with the rural poor, because of his populist policies and
voted in as Prime Minister on June 5, 2019.
political empowerment of traditionally marginalized
Royal Succession
communities. Yet, Thaskin was, and still is, a divisive
figure, and critics accused him of corruption and human
The monarchy is one of Thailand’s most powerful political
rights abuses while he was in office. Between 2001 and
institutions. It has few formal authorities, but during King
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Bhumiphol’s reign, the palace enjoyed popular support and,
Sino-Thai ties could expand to fill the vacuum. In June
in turn, political influence. In October 2016, King
2017, the Thai government announced it would buy 34
Bhumiphol passed away, ending a 70-year reign that had
Chinese armored personnel carriers, perhaps in an attempt
made him the world’s longest serving monarch. After his
to reduce its reliance on U.S.-made weapons.
accession to the throne, Bhumiphol’s son Maha
Vajiralongkorn, officially known as King Rama X, has been
U.S.-Thai Trade and Economic Relations
more politically active than his father, opposing some parts
Thailand is an upper middle-income country, and trade and
of the 2016 Constitution and taking control of the bureau
foreign investment play a large role in its economy. In
managing the throne’s vast fortune in July 2017.
2018, Thailand’s GDP grew 3.7%, continuing a period of
comparatively slow growth. The United States is Thailand’s
Bhumiphol rarely interfered in politics in his later years, but
third largest trading partner, behind Japan and China. In
was seen as a moderating force that fostered stability
2018, Thailand was the United States’ 20th largest goods
among competing political actors. The new king is much
trading partner; its 26th largest goods export market; and a
less popular than his father, and his political inclinations
source of $44.5 billion in total two-way goods trade. In
lean towards the military, which has played a major role in
2018, the United States ran a $19.31 billion trade deficit
supporting royal legitimacy. Since the 2014 coup, as the
with Thailand, ranking Thailand as the country with the 13th
military government has sought to limit political criticism,
largest bilateral surplus with the United States. In 2017,
it has interpreted Thailand’s lese-majeste laws, which
USTR placed Thailand on its Section 301 Priority Watch
forbid insults to the monarch, more broadly, to include
List because of the country’s poor intellectual property
perceived insults to other officials and government entities.
rights protection and enforcement.
U.S.-Thailand Security Relations
Thailand’s Regional Relations
Security cooperation has long been the strongest pillar of
Thailand’s importance for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia
the U.S.-Thai relationship. In addition to hosting military
stems from its large economy, its good relations with its
exercises, Thailand has provided the U.S. military with
neighbors, and, until the coups, its relatively long-standing
access to important facilities, particularly the strategically
democratic rule. Thailand is chair of ASEAN for 2019, and
located Utapao airbase. The U.S. military used Utapao for
Thai officials hope to foster an ASEAN position on the Free
refueling operations during its campaigns in Iraq and
and Open Indo-Pacific, a strategic concept adopted by the
Afghanistan in the 2000s, as well as for multinational relief
Trump Administration. However, because of Thailand’s
efforts, including after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and
political turmoil, it has recently played little leadership role
2015 Nepal earthquake. For U.S. officials, intelligence and
in the region. Historically, Sino-Thai ties have been close.
law enforcement cooperation with Thai counterparts
Unlike several of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Thailand
remains a priority, particularly as the United States
has no territorial disputes with China in the South China
confronts international criminal and drug networks. In the
Sea. Thai imports from China have boomed under the 2010
past, transnational terrorist organizations have taken
China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
advantage of Thailand’s relatively permissive environment,
including tourist-friendly travel procedures and central
Human Rights and Democracy Concerns
location, for their operations in the region.
International groups, some Members of Congress, and U.S.
officials have criticized Thailand’s alleged human rights
Before the most recent coup, U.S. military leaders generally
abuses, including arbitrary arrests and the lack of
touted the alliance as apolitical and praised the Thai armed
protections for trafficking victims, laborers, and refugees.
forces for exhibiting restraint amidst the competing protests
International groups have also identified human rights
and political turmoil. However, following the 2014 coup,
violations in the Muslim-majority southern provinces where
the United States immediately suspended military aid to
an ongoing insurgency has killed over 7,000 people since
Thailand, including $3.5 million in Foreign Military
2004. In its 2018 Trafficking in Persons report, the State
Financing (FMF) and $85,000 in International Military
Department ranked Thailand as a Tier 2 country, an
Education and Training (IMET) funds. The U.S. took
improvement over recent years. Thailand argues that human
similar action following the 2006 military coup.
smuggling, not trafficking, is the main cross-border issue.
The United States has not suspended non-military aid, and
Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention
capacity building assistance to the country largely has
nor its 1967 Protocol and does not have a formal national
continued. In February 2018, USAID committed $10
asylum framework. In 2016, the United Nations High
million to curtail human trafficking in Thailand. Some
Commissioner for Refugees reported that Thailand hosted
military exercises, including the annual Cobra Gold military
nearly 600,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless
exercises, have continued. In the years immediately after
people.
the coup, fewer U.S. troops participated in Cobra Gold than
in previous years, but the scale of U.S. participation has
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
since returned to pre-coup levels.
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Kirt Smith, Research Assistant
Several analysts have noted that limits on U.S. engagement
could lead U.S.-Thai security ties could weaken, and that
IF10253
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10253 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED