Updated July 19, 2023
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
in a defunct media firm before running for office, a move
of the United States. The United States operates numerous
many observers consider politically motivated.
regional offices from the Bangkok Embassy, one of the
largest American diplomatic missions in the world.
Political Divisions and Protests
Bilateral cooperation includes security initiatives and
Thailand remains deeply politically divided, with the
operations, intelligence and law enforcement efforts, and
potential for more conflicts ahead. Pita and the Move
regional health and education programs. These ties endure,
Forward Party had garnered the support of Thailand’s
but nearly two decades of political turmoil in Thailand,
young, urban voters, who are protesting what they
including military coups in 2006 and 2014, have
reportedly view as the denial of their democratic choice.
complicated relations. The country’s instability could be
Further efforts to limit Move Forward and Pheu Thai’s role
exacerbated following May 2023 elections, in which
in government would raise the possibility of wider street
reformist parties outpolled incumbent military-linked
protests and civil disobedience. Broadly, Thailand’s
parties, but have been blocked from forming a government.
political turmoil involves a clash between the political
establishment (a mix of the military, royalists, and senior
Efforts by successive Thai governments to manipulate
bureaucrats), young Thais seeking a democratic voice, and
political processes and suppress critics have raised
Thaksin supporters, traditionally associated with less-
questions about Thailand’s prospects for returning to full
affluent rural citizens. Thaksin holds considerable sway, but
democratic governance, including the peaceful transfer of
resides overseas in self-imposed exile.
power and protection for civil liberties. Human rights
organizations have alleged numerous abuses by the current
Figure 1. Thailand at a Glance
military-backed government, including the curtailment of
freedoms of speech and assembly, harassment of
government critics, use of lese majeste (offenses against the
monarchy) laws to muzzle dissent, arbitrary arrests, and a
lack of protections for human trafficking victims, laborers,
and refugees.
2023 Elections
Thailand held nationwide elections on May 14, 2023—its
first since 2019. In heavy voter turnout, two reformist
parties earned over 58% of seats in the elected Lower
House of Parliament: the Move Forward Party, led by U.S.-

educated Pita Limjaroenrat, which advocated for lessening
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023, World Bank. Map, CRS.
privileges enjoyed by the military and royal palace; and
Pheu Thai, associated with exiled Prime Minister Thaksin
Move Forward’s call to lessen the monarchy’s privileges is
Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup. Two
a major point of controversy in Thailand. Criticizing the
military-backed parties, the United Thai Nation Party, led
monarch is illegal, and the definition of lese majeste has
by retiring Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the
expanded over the past two decades to include even subtle
current ruling party Palang Pracharath, led by first Deputy
criticisms of the king, palace, military, or government. King
Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, finished with the third
Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his widely revered
and seventh largest vote totals.
father in 2019, is reportedly deeply unpopular with the
public for his profligate lifestyle and history of capricious
An initial vote for a Pita-led coalition government failed,
and often violent behavior. Since 2020, pro-democracy
raising questions about whether the party that received the
protests have been notable for their overt criticism of the
most votes would be able to form a government. Under
monarchy, as well as their support from students from
Thailand’s current military-written constitution, a
across the political spectrum.
government is selected by combined vote of the elected
Lower House and a 250-seat Upper House, whose members
Security Relations
are appointed by the military. Although a Pita-led coalition
U.S.-Thai security relations, which date back to cooperation
received a majority in the Lower House, a small number of
in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, have long been the
the appointed Upper House delegates supported it. On July
highest-profile pillar of the relationship. In addition to
19, Parliament voted to void Pita’s nomination as Prime
hosting military exercises, Thailand has provided the U.S.
Minister, and a constitutional court suspended him from
military with access to important facilities, particularly the
Parliament on charges that he failed to disclose his holdings
strategically located Utapao airbase and Sattahip naval
base. The U.S. military used Utapao for refueling
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
operations during its campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan in
Thailand’s Regional Relations
the 2000s, as well as for humanitarian relief efforts in Asia,
Historically, Sino-Thai economic relations have been close,
including after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and 2015
with deep trade and investment ties, and defense ties have
Nepal earthquake. U.S. officials say intelligence and law
been growing. As a member of the China-led Belt and Road
enforcement cooperation remains a priority, particularly as
Initiative (BRI), Thailand is involved in a high-speed
the United States confronts international criminal and drug
railway project that would connect southern China with
networks active in the sub-region.
several Southeast Asian nations to its south. Observers in
Thailand have raised concerns about the project, including
Despite the imposition of coup-related foreign aid
questions about its potential profitably and its financial and
restrictions under §7008 of annual appropriations measures
technical assistance terms.
following the 2014 coup, the United States continued most
non-military aid and cooperation, including the large-scale
Thailand’s importance for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia
annual Cobra Gold military exercises. The Trump
stems from its strategic location, its large economy, and its
Administration’s July 2019 certification of the March 2019
good relations with its neighbors. Thailand was one of five
elections as democratic allowed the resumption of State
founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Department-administered military assistance, including
Nations (ASEAN), and it has extensive trade and
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International
investment relations across the region. Japan is its largest
Military Education and Training (IMET). The Biden
source of foreign direct investment. Thailand has no
Administration has continued IMET and FMF assistance
territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea and
for Thailand, allocating $2.7 million in IMET funding in
has been viewed as loath to voice opposition to China’s
FY2021 and $2.2 million in FY2022. Thailand also was
claims, despite their impact on its ASEAN partners.
allocated $14 million in FY2021 FMF through the
Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative (SAMSI) and
Thailand shares a 1,500-mile border with Burma
the Advanced Targeting Development Initiative (ATDI) for
(Myanmar), and its interactions with Burmese governments
maritime security and other projects.
over the years have arguably been more intensive than
those of any other country. Following Burma’s 2021
Thailand faces challenges in combating human trafficking,
military coup, Thailand has pursued diplomacy with the
including forced labor and sexual exploitation. The State
Burmese junta, including efforts to provide humanitarian
Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report rated
assistance to conflict-affected regions in Burma. Thailand
Thailand as a Tier 2 nation, indicating the government does
hosts over 90,000 refugees from Burmese internal conflicts
not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of
over the past several decades, and thousands more who fled
trafficking as set out by the Trafficking Victims Protection
after Burma’s 2021 coup. Thailand relies on natural gas
Act of 2000 (TVPA, P.L. 106-386, as amended), although
imports from Burma, and a Thai company is a leading
the government is making significant efforts to do so.
partner of Burma’s military-run oil and gas firm.
Trade and Economic Relations
The Thai government’s initial statements about the
Thailand is an upper middle-income country, and trade and
Burmese coup were mild, and many analysts assessed that
foreign investment play a large role in its economy. The
Thailand would be one of the Southeast Asian governments
economy, heavily dependent on tourism, suffered as a result
least willing to sharply criticize or isolate the military junta.
of the COVID-19 pandemic, and GDP contracted by 6.1%
Thailand nonetheless agreed to the unprecedented decision
in 2020 before rebounding; GDP expanded by 2.6% in
by ASEAN to refrain from inviting Burmese leader Min
2022. Thailand is the United States’ 19th largest trading
Aung Hlaing to summits in 2021 and 2022. More recently,
partner and 24th largest goods export market. Two-way
Thailand’s former Foreign Minister reportedly told an
trade of goods in 2020 was valued at $48.8 billion, with
ASEAN meeting that he had traveled to Burma in April
$37.6 billion in Thai exports to the United States and $11.2
2023 and met both with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and
billion in U.S. exports to Thailand.
imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seeking to
“re-engage” with the parties to seek a peace process.
The United States is Thailand’s third largest trading partner,
behind Japan and China. Thailand is a member of the Biden
Issues for Congress
Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
Since 2014, Members of Congress have introduced
initiative, which focuses on trade, supply chains, and clean
numerous resolutions urging the government of Thailand to
and fair economic growth. It is a member of the Regional
protect and uphold democracy and human rights, and
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade
conducted oversight of the executive branch’s
agreement that includes Asia-Pacific countries. Thailand is
implementation of coup-related foreign assistance
not a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive
restrictions, as well as military-to-military engagements. As
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade
Thailand’s current political turmoil evolves, Members may
pact that evolved from the proposed Trans-Pacific
consider how the United States can continue to promote
Partnership (TPP) from which the United States withdrew
respect for democracy and civil rights, while also sustaining
in 2017. Thai-U.S. trade discussions have focused on
and possibly strengthening areas of bilateral cooperation.
Thailand’s poor intellectual property (IP) rights protections,
and protection and subsidization of its large agriculture
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
industry.
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations

IF10253


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10253 · VERSION 13 · UPDATED

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