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; 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 Thailand-United 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 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 Comminiqué 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 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 development, 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 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 That the House of Representatives— (1) commemorates the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations and enduring alliance between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand; and (2) looks forward to further enhancing the enduring ties of friendship between the peoples of Thailand and the United States.

Summary: This resolution commemorates the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Thailand. It also looks forward to enhancing the ties of friendship between the peoples of Thailand and the United States.