Thai-US Relations in 2024
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME WEBINAR
About the Webinar
In 2024, the relationship between Thailand and the United States can be described as edgy amity. Economically, they enjoy close trade and investment relations, with the US being Thailand’s primary export destination. Their defense diplomacy remains strong, involving US military aid, education, and joint exercises. Historically, during the Cold War, Thailand and the US were staunch allies, with Thailand aligning with any prevailing foreign powers in Southeast Asia reflecting its “Bend with Wind” policy. Post-2001, Thailand adopted a hedging policy, balancing its relations between the US and China to support royalist-nationalism. The coups of 2006 and 2014 further solidified this hedging approach. From 2019-2023, General Prayuth Chanocha government was more pro-US compared to the current Srettha Thavisin administration. Thailand and the US have differing views on Myanmar, and various Thai bureaucracies maintain different stances towards the US. In 2024, the US is no longer Thailand’s top economic partner but remains its leading security partner, with China emerging as a significant contender.
In this webinar, Dr Chambers argues that Thai-US relations will continue to be a function of hedging if only because China has become a major partner for Thailand, but Thailand values a US partnership because of the US market and because Thailand needs the United States to ensure that China does not dominate Thailand altogether.
About the Speaker
Dr. Paul Chambers is a lecturer and advisor for International Affairs at the Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. He is also a part-time visiting fellow at the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS—Yusof Ishak Institute. He has a PhD in political science from Northern Illinois University. His articles have appeared in Asian Survey, Contemporary Southeast Asia, and The Journal of Contemporary Asia, among others. He speaks Thai, Lao, Burmese, and Spanish, in addition to English.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. To join us, please register here to receive your unique link.
Please note that each registration is good for only one login at any one time during the event.