Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Updated September 1, 2023
Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
Parliament for failing to disclose his holdings in a defunct
of the United States. The United States operates numerous
media firm before running for office, a move many
regional offices from the Bangkok Embassy, one of the
observers consider politically motivated. In August, Pheu
largest American diplomatic missions in the world.
Thai formed an 11-party coalition, and Parliament approved
Bilateral cooperation includes security initiatives and
Srettha as Prime Minister. As part of an apparent
operations, intelligence and law enforcement efforts, and
agreement, Thaksin returned from 15 years in exile in
regional health and education programs. These ties endure,
August 2023. He was immediately arrested on corruption
but nearly two decades of political turmoil in Thailand,
charges and requested a royal pardon. On September 1,
including military coups in 2006 and 2014, have
2023, the king commuted his sentence from 8 years to 1
complicated relations. Many observers saw the May 2023
year. Thaksin, 74, currently is being held at a police
elections as likely to prolong instability, as a reformist party
hospital.
that earned the largest vote total was blocked from forming
In its early weeks, the new government announced plans to
a government. Srettha Thavasin, a real estate tycoon,
implement a number of populist measures including digital-
became Prime Minister in August 2023, leading a diverse
currency handouts to the public, agricultural and fuel
coalition including military parties.
subsidies, and lower public transportation fares.
Efforts by successive Thai governments to manipulate
political processes and suppress critics have raised
Figure 1. Thailand at a Glance
questions about Thailand’s prospects for returning to full
democratic governance, including the peaceful transfer of
power and protection for civil liberties. Human rights
organizations have alleged numerous abuses, 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.
Despite these trends, the United States maintains a military
alliance with Thailand. With one of the region’s largest
economies and possession of key strategic military
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023, World Bank. Map, CRS.
facilities, Thailand is an important strategic partner in
Southeast Asia. As U.S.-China tensions shape regional
Political Divisions and Protests
decision-making, Thailand remains an arena of competition
Thailand remains deeply politically divided, with the
and an important component of the U.S. Indo-Pacific
potential for more conflict ahead. Broadly, Thailand’s
strategy. Congress and the Executive Branch may struggle
political turmoil involves a clash between the political
to reconcile how to express concerns about human rights in
establishment (a mix of the military, royalists, and senior
Thailand without losing access and influence in the country.
bureaucrats), young Thais seeking a democratic voice, and
2023 Elections
Thaksin supporters, traditionally associated with less-
affluent rural citizens. Pita and the Move Forward Party had
Thailand held elections in May 2023, the first since 2019.
garnered the support of Thailand’s young, urban voters,
In heavy turnout, two reformist parties earned over 58% of
who are protesting the denial of their democratic choice.
seats in the Lower House of Parliament: the Move Forward
Move Forward’s status as the primary opposition raises the
Party, led by U.S.-educated Pita Limjaroenrat, which
possibility of street protests and civil disobedience in the
advocated for lessening privileges enjoyed by the military
months to come. Similarly, Pheu Thai’s ruling coalition,
and royal palace; and Pheu Thai, associated with former
which includes parties from across the political spectrum,
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in
may struggle to maintain unity and govern effectively.
the 2006 coup. Two military-backed parties finished with
the third and seventh largest vote totals.
Move Forward’s call to lessen the monarchy’s privileges is
a major point of controversy in Thailand. Criticizing the
Under Thailand’s current military-written constitution, a
monarch is illegal, and the definition of lèse majesté has
government is selected by combined vote of the elected
expanded over the past two decades to include even subtle
Lower House and a 250-seat Upper House, whose members
criticisms of the king, palace, military, or government. King
are appointed by the military. In July, an initial vote for a
Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his widely revered
Pita-led coalition government failed. Parliament
father in 2019, is reportedly deeply unpopular with the
subsequently voted to void Pita’s nomination as Prime
public for his profligate lifestyle and history of capricious
Minister, and a constitutional court suspended him from
and often violent behavior. Since 2020, pro-democracy
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
protests have been notable for their overt criticism of the
several Southeast Asian nations to its south. Observers in
monarchy, as well as their support from students from
Thailand have raised concerns about the project, including
across the political spectrum.
questions about its potential profitably and its financial and
Security Relations
technical assistance terms.
U.S.-Thai security relations, which date back to the Korean
Thailand’s importance for U.S. interests in Southeast Asia
and Vietnam Wars, have long been the highest-profile pillar
stems from its strategic location, its large economy, and its
of the relationship. In addition to hosting military exercises,
good relations with its neighbors. Thailand was one of five
Thailand provides the U.S. military with access to key
founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian
facilities, particularly the strategically located Utapao
Nations (ASEAN), and it has extensive trade and
airbase and Sattahip naval base. The U.S. military used
investment relations across the region. Japan is its largest
Utapao for refueling operations during its campaigns in Iraq
source of foreign direct investment. Thailand has no
and Afghanistan in the 2000s, as well as for humanitarian
territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea and
relief efforts in Asia. U.S. officials say intelligence and law
has been viewed as loath to voice opposition to China’s
enforcement cooperation remains a priority, particularly as
claims, despite their impact on its ASEAN partners.
the United States confronts international criminal and drug
Thailand shares a 1,500-mile border with Burma
networks active in the sub-region.
(Myanmar), and its interactions with Burmese governments
Despite the imposition of foreign aid restrictions under
over the years have arguably been more intensive than
§7008 of annual appropriations measures following the
those of any other country. Following Burma’s 2021
2014 coup, the United States continued most non-military
military coup, Thailand has pursued diplomacy with the
aid and cooperation, including the large-scale annual Cobra
Burmese junta, including efforts to provide humanitarian
Gold military exercises. The Trump Administration’s
assistance to conflict-affected regions in Burma. Thailand
certification of the March 2019 elections as democratic
hosts over 90,000 refugees from Burmese internal conflicts
allowed the resumption of State Department-administered
over the past several decades, and thousands more who fled
military assistance, including Foreign Military Financing
after Burma’s 2021 coup. Thailand relies on natural gas
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training
imports from Burma, and a Thai company is a leading
(IMET). The Biden Administration has continued IMET
partner of Burma’s military-run oil and gas firm.
and FMF assistance for Thailand, allocating $2.0 million in
The Thai government’s initial statements about the
IMET funding in FY2021, $1.3 million in FY2022, and
Burmese coup were mild, and many analysts assessed that
$2.3 million in FY2023. Thailand also was allocated $14
Thailand would be one of the Southeast Asian governments
million in FY2021 FMF through the Southeast Asia
least willing to sharply criticize or isolate the military junta.
Maritime Security Initiative (SAMSI) and the Advanced
Thailand nonetheless agreed to the unprecedented decision
Targeting Development Initiative (ATDI) for maritime
by ASEAN to refrain from inviting Burmese leader Min
security and other projects.
Aung Hlaing to summits in 2021 and 2022. Thailand’s
Trade and Economic Relations
former Foreign Minister reportedly traveled to Burma in
April 2023 and met both coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and
Thailand is an upper middle-income country, and trade and
imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, seeking to
foreign investment play a large role in its economy. The
“re-engage” with the parties to seek a peace process.
economy, heavily dependent on tourism, suffered as a result
of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,
Issues for Congress
and GDP contracted by 6.1% in 2020 before rebounding;
Since 2014, Members of Congress have introduced
GDP expanded by 2.6% in 2022. Thailand is the United
numerous resolutions urging the government of Thailand to
States’ 19th largest trading partner and 24th largest goods
protect and uphold democracy and human rights, and
export market. Two-way trade in goods in 2020 was valued
conducted oversight of the executive branch’s
at $48.8 billion, with $37.6 billion in Thai exports to the
implementation of coup-related foreign assistance
United States and $11.2 billion in U.S. exports to Thailand.
restrictions, as well as military-to-military engagements.
The United States is Thailand’s third largest trading partner,
Members have also expressed concern about Thailand’s
behind Japan and China. Thailand is a member of the Biden
human trafficking record; the State Department’s 2023
Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
Trafficking in Persons Report rated Thailand as a Tier 2
initiative, which focuses on trade, supply chains, and clean
nation, indicating the government does not fully meet the
and fair economic growth. It is a member of the Regional
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking as set
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade
out by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
agreement that includes Asia-Pacific countries. Thai-U.S.
(TVPA, P.L. 106-386, as amended). As Thailand’s current
trade discussions have focused on Thailand’s poor
political turmoil evolves, Members may consider how the
intellectual property (IP) rights protections and protection
United States can continue to promote respect for
and subsidization of its large agriculture industry.
democracy and civil rights, while also sustaining and
possibly strengthening areas of bilateral cooperation.
Thailand’s Regional Relations
Historically, Sino-Thai economic relations have been close,
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
with deep trade and investment ties, and defense ties have
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
been growing. As a member of the China-led Belt and Road
IF10253
Initiative (BRI), Thailand is involved in a high-speed
railway project that would connect southern China with
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
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