Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahidda-Nukara and Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to deepen and widen partnerships between the two allies during the Deputy Prime Minister’s first official visit to Washington, D.C. last week.

The meeting built on the positive momentum established by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s trip to Thailand last month. Thailand is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia, with the first bilateral treaty signed 191 years ago.

Secretary Blinken and Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree hammered out informal agreement on several issues, including defense and strategic cooperation, economic partnership, including trade and investment, and climate change, as well as fighting transnational crime, including cyber scams.

Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree expressed appreciation to the United States for its efforts to free at least eight Thais still being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. Secretary Blinken thanked Thailand for spearheading the provision of humanitarian assistance to neighboring Myanmar, which has been embroiled in civil conflict since 2021.

The talks with Secretary Blinken were the high point of a highly productive trip to the U.S. capital by Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree, who serves in the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which was elected and formed a ruling coalition in the second half of 2023.

The Deputy Prime Minister also met with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Christopher Van Hollen, and Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Energy and Investment Amos J. Hochstein.

During the meeting with Commerce Secretary Raimondo, both sides discussed strengthening U.S.-Thailand supply chains and expanding trade and investment. Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree also promoted investment in Thailand’s southern land bridge project, which will provide an alternate route for shipping.

Photo courtesy of https://www.mfa.go.th/th/content/dpmfm-bilat-with-us-sos