During 23 – 27 August 2025, the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., led by H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, organized a visit to Thailand by a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) of four members of the United States House of Representatives, including Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) as the Head of CODEL, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL), Congressman Richard McCormick (R-GA), and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA).  

The visit aimed at providing additional perspectives for Members of the U.S. Congress on Thai–U.S. alliance and strategic partnership and to highlight the strategic significance of the partnership across multiple sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the enduring alliance and strategic partnership between Thailand and the United States, encompassing trade and investment, security and defense including efforts to address transnational crime, as well as cultural, academic and people-to-people ties. The visit also emphasized the importance of strengthening the Friends of Thailand network within the U.S. Congress and supporting the activities of the U.S.-Thailand Alliance Caucus.

During the visit, Members of the U.S. Congress paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, serving as Acting Prime Minister, and had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as H.E. Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The Delegation also had a meeting with representatives from the Thailand-United States Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group. The delegation also paid a visit to Sunpasitthiprasong Camp including the camp’s hospital in Ubon Ratchathani Province to attend a briefing on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation, which provided an important opportunity to gain direct information on the border situation from the local authorities on the ground, and to hear the voices of some of the school children affected by the situation.

In addition, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the private sector from the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and participated in a Roundtable Meeting on the topic “Strengthening the Thailand–U.S. Alliance and Strategic Partnership: Opportunities and Challenges Against the Backdrop of Reciprocal Tariffs and Issues in the Region,” which included distinguished speakers, namely Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool, President of the Economic Society of Thailand; Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University; Dr. Pongphisoot Busbarat, Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS Thailand), Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University; and Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn, a veteran journalist.

The delegation had a chance to discuss and exchange views with the Governor of Bangkok, joined by distinguished guests including Ms. Pornprapai Ganjanarintr, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, and Ms. Apinya Tajit, recipient of the 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero Award. The delegation also met with Thai cultural representatives and young artists promoting Thailand’s soft power and cultural cooperation.