IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 234 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives relating to the commemoration of the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations between 

the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2023 

Mrs. STEEL (for herself, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. 

OBERNOLTE, Mr. CARTER of Texas, Mr. PETERS, and Mr. CASE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives relating to the commemoration of the 190th anniversary of 

diplomatic relations between the United States and the 

Kingdom of Thailand. 

Whereas 2023 marks the 190th anniversary of the March 20, 

1833, signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand 

(formerly known as Siam), which initiated diplomatic relations between the 2 countries during the administration 

of President Andrew Jackson and the reign of King 

Rama III; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 234 IH 

Whereas Thailand was the first treaty ally of the United 

States in the Asia-Pacific region and remains a steadfast 

friend of the United States; 

Whereas Thailand has been a beacon of independence, a 

friend of freedom, and a support to the United States 

through the years of adversity and prosperity for both 

countries; 

Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great 

was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and His Majesty’s reign had cemented the solid bonds of friendship 

and cooperation between Thailand and the United States; 

Whereas, in December 2003, the United States designated 

Thailand as a major non-NATO ally, which improved the 

security of both countries, particularly by facilitating 

joint counterterrorism efforts; 

Whereas, for more than 40 years, Thailand has been the host 

country of Cobra Gold, the United States Pacific Command’s annual multinational military training exercise, 

which is designed to ensure regional peace and promote 

regional security cooperation; 

Whereas the United States hosted the inaugural ThailandUnited States Strategic and Defense Dialogue in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2022, and May 10, 2022, to enhance the Thailand-United States strategic partnership 

in all aspects, ranging from enhancing political and security cooperation, strengthening economic partnership, to 

deepening people-to-people ties, as well as promoting a 

peaceful and stable environment conducive to the socioeconomic recovery from COVID–19; 

Whereas the President of the United States welcomed Prime 

Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, to the White 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 234 IH 

House on October, 2, 2017, to reaffirm the importance 

of the enduring alliance between the United States and 

Thailand and to discuss their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific 

region and beyond; 

Whereas the Secretary of State met with Minister of Foreign 

Affairs of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, in Bangkok, 

Thailand, on August, 1, 2019, to cultivate the friendship 

between the 2 Pacific nations, strengthen United States 

private enterprise investments in Thailand, and highlight 

the strong security cooperation between both nations; 

Whereas the Secretary of State met with Minister of Foreign 

Affairs of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, in Bangkok, 

Thailand, on July, 10, 2022, to further enhance the 

United States-Thailand strategic alliance and partnership 

as well as to promote closer cooperation in multifaceted 

areas based on shared values and mutual benefits; 

Whereas Thailand and the United States signed the United 

States-Thailand Comminique ́ on Strategic Alliance and 

Partnership on July 10, 2022, to enhance our strategic 

alliance and partnership, and to strengthen cooperation 

on economic prosperity, defense and security, global public health advancement, people-to-people ties, as well as 

climate change mitigation and environment protection, 

law enforcement, and technology and cybersecurity, both 

bilaterally and on regional fora; 

Whereas Thailand and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting supply chain resilience on July 10, 2022; 

Whereas the Vice President of the United States was granted 

an audience with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 234 IH 

Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen 

Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 19, 2022, and also met with the 

Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, during 

the visit to Thailand to attend at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting to 

strengthen the partnership between the United States 

and Thailand and to reaffirm the United States commitment to the Mekong subregion; 

Whereas Thailand is a valued trading partner of the United 

States, with bilateral trade totaling approximately 

$74,000,000,000 per year; 

Whereas Thailand was the first country to join the United 

States Clean Energy Demand Initiative in February 

2020, and has joined the Net Zero World Initiative in 

November 2022, as part of an effort to achieve energy 

transition initiatives; 

Whereas Thailand investment in the United States has continued to increase and currently totaled over 

$11,000,000,000; 

Whereas United States is among the first development partners of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic 

Cooperation Strategy, an economic framework initiated 

by Thailand in 2003, with an aim to narrowing economic 

development gaps and promoting sustainable growth in 

the Mekong subregion; 

Whereas the United States has launched the Mekong-US 

Partnership in 2020, building on the success of the 

Lower Mekong Initiative, which had been established 

since 2009, to enhance cooperation in the areas of economic connectivity, energy security, human capital develVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR234.IH HR234

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•HRES 234 IH 

opment, transboundary water and natural resources management, and nontraditional security among the Mekong 

countries; 

Whereas Thailand is one of the founding members of the 

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, supporting the 

United States economic reengagement in the region with 

a focus on standard building and supply chain resilience; 

Whereas the United States and Thailand have close collaboration on science and technology, innovation and education, through high-level engagements, including, among 

others, the Joint Committee Meeting on Science and 

Technology, the Thailand-United States Space Dialogue 

in Thailand and the Fulbright Thailand Program which 

is a binational program for academic exchanges between 

Thailand and the United States; 

Whereas more than 300,000 people of Thai descent live in 

the United States, joining in the pursuit of the American 

Dream; 

Whereas Thailand continues to be a friend to the United 

States and strives to lead Southeast Asia to a new measure of economic liberty and accomplishment; 

Whereas Thailand has played a leading role in the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by 

helping the regional group develop into a more cohesive 

and comprehensive entity that ensures regional security 

and prosperity and serves as a valued partner in Asia for 

the United States; 

Whereas the President of the United States launched the 

United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations 

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on November 12, 

2022; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6 

•HRES 234 IH 

Whereas the United States reaffirms its commitment to conduct relations with Thailand in a manner consistent with 

the spirit and letter of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, to promote the friendly relations and good will 

traditionally existing between the United States and 

Thailand, and to encourage mutually beneficial trade and 

closer economic and cultural cooperation between their 

peoples: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commemorates the 190th anniversary of 

3 diplomatic relations and enduring alliance between 

4 the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand; 

5 and 

6 (2) looks forward to further enhancing the en7 during ties of friendship between the peoples of 

8 Thailand and the United States. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS