On 9 January 2026, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, together with Ms. Chuliepote Isarankura Na Ayudhaya, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., attended the 65th International Red Cross Ball at The Breakers Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida. The event brought together major supporters of the International Red Cross from the private sector, prominent figures from American society, as well as from various countries. The International Red Cross Ball is a long-standing annual charity event aimed at raising funds to support the mission of the American Red Cross in preventing and alleviating human suffering caused by emergencies and natural disasters throughout the United States, as well as providing assistance to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families under the organization’s humanitarian programs of the American Red Cross. The principal hosts of this year’s event were Mr. Charles Schumacher and Mrs. Amanda Schumacher, Chairman of the 65th International Red Cross Ball, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Schumacher Automotive Group, respectively.

On 10 January 2026, the Ambassador had the opportunity to meet and converse with Mr. Donald Trump, President of the United States, along with other prominent U.S. figures, including Mr. Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City; Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL); and Mr. Mike Tyson, the renowned former American boxer, during a dinner at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. During the meeting, the Ambassador exchanged views and held discussions on multi-dimensional cooperation between Thailand and the United States, as well as other key agendas for Asia-Pacific and the world.

On 11 January 2026, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, attended the Global Heart Awards ceremony organized by the Tree of Life Foundation International at The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, Florida, and received the Global Heart Awards along with nine ambassadors. Ambassador Suriya was the only award recipient from Asia. In his remarks upon receiving the award, the Ambassador highlighted the long-standing and close alliance between Thailand and the United States, which spans 193 years, noting that Thailand was the first ally of the United States in Asia. He further emphasized that there is always one more mission to promote peace, one more act of compassion to extend to others, and one more shared aspiration to help build a better world.

The Global Heart Awards is a humanitarian recognition presented by the Tree of Life Foundation International to honor leaders from government, diplomatic missions, and civil society who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to humanitarian values, compassion, and service to society at the international level, as well as to the strengthening of mutual understanding among nations and the advancement of global peace. The award presented to Ambassador Suriya reflects Thailand’s continued dedication and contribution to humanitarian efforts and world society, as well as its continued efforts to promote international cooperation.