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 weekWashington wants to advance ties across investment, trade, education and energy – plus military equipment and aircraft upgrades, a US official saidThailandBloombergPublished: 2:02pm, 20 Sep, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
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.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.
