A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate relating to the commemoration of the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.

Bill: 118-sres-485
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-12-05
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-12-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S5761-5762)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-12-05
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution commemorates the 190<sup>th</sup> anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Thailand. It also expresses the hope of enhancing the ties of friendship between the peoples of the United States and Thailand.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 485 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 5, 2023 Mr. Cotton (for himself, Mr. Merkley , Mr. Sullivan , and Ms. Duckworth ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate 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 supported the United States through periods of both adversity and prosperity for the 2 countries; 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 Indo-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, from May 9 to 10, 2022, to enhance all aspects of the United States-Thailand strategic partnership, ranging from enhancing political and security cooperation and strengthening economic partnerships, to upholding democracy and respect for human rights, deepening people-to-people ties, and promoting a peaceful and stable environment conducive to recovery from COVID–19; Whereas the President of the United States welcomed the Prime Minister of Thailand to the White House in May 2022 for the first-ever Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to in this preamble as ASEAN ) summit in Washington, DC, to reaffirm the importance of the enduring partnership between the United States and the nations of Southeast Asia and to discuss their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond; Whereas the United States Secretary of State met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand 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 based on shared values and mutual benefits; Whereas Thailand and the United States signed the United States-Thailand Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership on July 10, 2022, to enhance our strategic alliance and partnership, as well as strengthen cooperation on economic prosperity, defense and security, democracy and human rights, humanitarian assistance, global public health advancement, people-to-people ties, as well as environmental protection, law enforcement, and technology and cybersecurity, both bilaterally and in 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 visited Thailand in November 2022 to attend 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 bilateral investment has reached over $13,000,000,000; Whereas the 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 reduce economic development gaps and promote sustainable growth in the Mekong subregion; Whereas the United States has launched the Mekong-US Partnership in 2020, building on the Lower Mekong Initiative, which was established in 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; Whereas the United States and Thailand closely collaborate on science and technology and 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 level of economic prosperity and accomplishment; Whereas for decades Thailand has continued to provide refuge for displaced populations, including people escaping war and political repression in countries throughout Southeast Asia and the broader region; Whereas Thailand has played a leading role in the development of the ASEAN, which serves as a valued partner in Asia for the United States; and Whereas the President of the United States launched the United States-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on November 12, 2022: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) commemorates the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations and enduring alliance between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand; (2) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to a strong alliance with Thailand, based on shared values and strategic interests; and (3) looks forward to further enhancing the enduring ties of friendship between the peoples of Thailand and the United States, with the understanding that strong democratic institutions, independent civil society, and free and fair elections are central to the shared vision of an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open.