Updated August 8, 2023
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
in Parliament to form a government. If it does succeed, how
of the United States. The United States operates numerous
the Thai public will react to a government that does not
regional offices from the Bangkok Embassy, one of the
include the party that garnered the most votes in the
largest American diplomatic missions in the world.
election is also unclear.
Bilateral cooperation includes security initiatives and
Political Divisions and Protests
operations, intelligence and law enforcement efforts, and
Thailand remains deeply politically divided, with the
regional health and education programs. These ties endure,
potential for more conflicts ahead. Pita and the Move
but nearly two decades of political turmoil in Thailand,
Forward Party had garnered the support of Thailand’s
including military coups in 2006 and 2014, have
young, urban voters, who are protesting what they
complicated relations. The country’s instability could be
reportedly view as the denial of their democratic choice.
exacerbated following May 2023 elections, in which
Further efforts to limit Move Forward and Pheu Thai’s role
reformist parties outpolled incumbent military-linked
in government would raise the possibility of wider street
parties, but have been blocked from forming a government.
protests and civil disobedience. Broadly, Thailand’s
Efforts by successive Thai governments to manipulate
political turmoil involves a clash between the political
political processes and suppress critics have raised
establishment (a mix of the military, royalists, and senior
questions about Thailand’s prospects for returning to full
bureaucrats), young Thais seeking a democratic voice, and
democratic governance, including the peaceful transfer of
Thaksin supporters, traditionally associated with less-
power and protection for civil liberties. Human rights
affluent rural citizens. Thaksin holds considerable sway, but
organizations have alleged numerous abuses by the current
resides overseas in self-imposed exile.
military-backed government, including the curtailment of
freedoms of speech and assembly, harassment of
Figure 1. Thailand at a Glance
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
privileges enjoyed by the military and royal palace; and

Pheu Thai, associated with exiled Prime Minister Thaksin
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023, World Bank. Map, CRS.
Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup. Two
military-backed parties, the United Thai Nation Party, led
Move Forward’s call to lessen the monarchy’s privileges is
by retiring Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the
a major point of controversy in Thailand. Criticizing the
current ruling party Palang Pracharath, led by first Deputy
monarch is illegal, and the definition of lese majeste has
Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, finished with the third
expanded over the past two decades to include even subtle
and seventh largest vote totals.
criticisms of the king, palace, military, or government. King
Under Thailand’s current military-written constitution, a
Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his widely revered
government is selected by combined vote of the elected
father in 2019, is reportedly deeply unpopular with the
Lower House and a 250-seat Upper House, whose members
public for his profligate lifestyle and history of capricious
are appointed by the military. In July, an initial vote for a
and often violent behavior. Since 2020, pro-democracy
Pita-led coalition government failed, leading to some
protests have been notable for their overt criticism of the
protests in Bangkok. Parliament subsequently voted to void
monarchy, as well as their support from students from
Pita’s nomination as Prime Minister, and a constitutional
across the political spectrum.
court suspended him from Parliament on charges that he
Security Relations
failed to disclose his holdings in a defunct media firm
before running for office, a move many observers consider
U.S.-Thai security relations, which date back to cooperation
politically motivated. In August, Pheu Thai announced
in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, have long been the
plans to form a coalition without Move Forward or the
highest-profile pillar of the relationship. In addition to
military-linked parties, naming media tycoon Srettha
hosting military exercises, Thailand has provided the U.S.
Thavasin as its Prime Minister nominee. As of this writing,
military with access to important facilities, particularly the
it is unclear whether the coalition will garner enough votes
strategically located Utapao airbase and Sattahip naval
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
base. The U.S. military used Utapao for refueling
Thailand’s Regional Relations
operations during its campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan in
Historically, Sino-Thai economic relations have been close,
the 2000s, as well as for humanitarian relief efforts in Asia,
with deep trade and investment ties, and defense ties have
including after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and 2015
been growing. As a member of the China-led Belt and Road
Nepal earthquake. U.S. officials say intelligence and law
Initiative (BRI), Thailand is involved in a high-speed
enforcement cooperation remains a priority, particularly as
railway project that would connect southern China with
the United States confronts international criminal and drug
several Southeast Asian nations to its south. Observers in
networks active in the sub-region.
Thailand have raised concerns about the project, including
questions about its potential profitably and its financial and
Despite the imposition of coup-related foreign aid
technical assistance terms.
restrictions under §7008 of annual appropriations measures
following the 2014 coup, the United States continued most
Thailand’s importance for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia
non-military aid and cooperation, including the large-scale
stems from its strategic location, its large economy, and its
annual Cobra Gold military exercises. The Trump
good relations with its neighbors. Thailand was one of five
Administration’s July 2019 certification of the March 2019
founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian
elections as democratic allowed the resumption of State
Nations (ASEAN), and it has extensive trade and
Department-administered military assistance, including
investment relations across the region. Japan is its largest
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International
source of foreign direct investment. Thailand has no
Military Education and Training (IMET). The Biden
territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea and
Administration has continued IMET and FMF assistance
has been viewed as loath to voice opposition to China’s
for Thailand, allocating $2.7 million in IMET funding in
claims, despite their impact on its ASEAN partners.
FY2021 and $2.2 million in FY2022. Thailand also was
Thailand shares a 1,500-mile border with Burma
allocated $14 million in FY2021 FMF through the
(Myanmar), and its interactions with Burmese governments
Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative (SAMSI) and
over the years have arguably been more intensive than
the Advanced Targeting Development Initiative (ATDI) for
those of any other country. Following Burma’s 2021
maritime security and other projects.
military coup, Thailand has pursued diplomacy with the
Thailand faces challenges in combating human trafficking,
Burmese junta, including efforts to provide humanitarian
including forced labor and sexual exploitation. The State
assistance to conflict-affected regions in Burma. Thailand
Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report rated
hosts over 90,000 refugees from Burmese internal conflicts
Thailand as a Tier 2 nation, indicating the government does
over the past several decades, and thousands more who fled
not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of
after Burma’s 2021 coup. Thailand relies on natural gas
trafficking as set out by the Trafficking Victims Protection
imports from Burma, and a Thai company is a leading
Act of 2000 (TVPA, P.L. 106-386, as amended), although
partner of Burma’s military-run oil and gas firm.
the government is making significant efforts to do so.
The Thai government’s initial statements about the
Trade and Economic Relations
Burmese coup were mild, and many analysts assessed that
Thailand would be one of the Southeast Asian governments
Thailand is an upper middle-income country, and trade and
least willing to sharply criticize or isolate the military junta.
foreign investment play a large role in its economy. The
Thailand nonetheless agreed to the unprecedented decision
economy, heavily dependent on tourism, suffered as a result
by ASEAN to refrain from inviting Burmese leader Min
of the COVID-19 pandemic, and GDP contracted by 6.1%
Aung Hlaing to summits in 2021 and 2022. More recently,
in 2020 before rebounding; GDP expanded by 2.6% in
Thailand’s former Foreign Minister reportedly told an
2022. Thailand is the United States’ 19th largest trading
ASEAN meeting that he had traveled to Burma in April
partner and 24th largest goods export market. Two-way
2023 and met both with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and
trade of goods in 2020 was valued at $48.8 billion, with
imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seeking to
$37.6 billion in Thai exports to the United States and $11.2
“re-engage” with the parties to seek a peace process.
billion in U.S. exports to Thailand.
The United States is Thailand’s third largest trading partner,
Issues for Congress
behind Japan and China. Thailand is a member of the Biden
Since 2014, Members of Congress have introduced
Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
numerous resolutions urging the government of Thailand to
initiative, which focuses on trade, supply chains, and clean
protect and uphold democracy and human rights, and
and fair economic growth. It is a member of the Regional
conducted oversight of the executive branch’s
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade
implementation of coup-related foreign assistance
agreement that includes Asia-Pacific countries. Thailand is
restrictions, as well as military-to-military engagements. As
not a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive
Thailand’s current political turmoil evolves, Members may
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade
consider how the United States can continue to promote
pact that evolved from the proposed Trans-Pacific
respect for democracy and civil rights, while also sustaining
Partnership (TPP) from which the United States withdrew
and possibly strengthening areas of bilateral cooperation.
in 2017. Thai-U.S. trade discussions have focused on
Thailand’s poor intellectual property (IP) rights protections,
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
and protection and subsidization of its large agriculture
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
industry.
IF10253
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10253 · VERSION 15 · UPDATED

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