US-Thailand relations: Washington spots a rare chance for a reset under new PM Srettha Thavisin

Srettha Thavisin is reportedly bringing his military chief for security talks with the US while he’s at the United Nations General Assembly this week

Washington wants to advance ties across investment, trade, education and energy – plus military equipment and aircraft upgrades, a US official said

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Members of the Thai armed forces stand outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok during celebrations to mark King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 71st birthday earlier this year. The Pentagon wants to explore cooperation with Thailand in mutual defence education programmes and combined military training exercises, a spokesman said. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:02pm, 20 Sep 2023Updated: 3:05pm, 20 Sep 2023

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been in office for less than a month, but the United States already sees its best opportunity in two decades to get its alliance with Thailand back on track after ties were strained under the previous military-backed regime.

Srettha is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly and is reportedly bringing his incoming military chief for security talks with the US. While he is seeking an audience with President Joe Biden, he has indicated that any rapprochement won’t come at the expense of China.

The new Thai prime minister wants to forge closer ties with the West as he faces increasing pressure to reinvigorate an economy that has lagged behind the growth of its neighbours even before the pandemic. While in the US, he’ll also court investment from Microsoft Corp., Google and Tesla Inc.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gestures last week as he arrives for his first official cabinet meeting at Government House. He is is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: EPA-EFE

Whether the Biden meeting will happen is unclear, as the US weighs how to engage a government propped up by the pro-military establishment that took power through a coup in 2014.

There’s also the question of how long Thailand’s ruling coalition, comprised of former foes, can last while the pro-democracy party that won the most votes in May’s general election continues to face the threat of being dissolved.

Even so, Washington sees a rare chance to significantly advance the relationship across a range of areas, from investment and trade to education exchanges and energy, according to a US official familiar with the matter. That could also extend to military equipment, including to upgrade Thailand’s existing aircraft, said the official.

Doing so could help restore ties with an ally that’s increasingly turning to China to boost its key industries just as the US seeks to reshape its regional alliances in the face of growing competition with Beijing.