Boosting Thai-US ties in an age of crisis

A photo taken in March 2018 shows the US Air Force Band performing at River Park IconSiam to mark the 200th anniversary of US-Thai friendship. The relationship has gone through ups and downs since the end of the Cold War. (Photo: IconSiam)

The Thailand-US alliance is still alive and well but in order to move forward, both sides have to ramp up dialogues, sharpen their focus and enhance their cooperation. That was the conclusion from the nine hours of discussions from May 9-10 in Washington between their senior foreign affairs and defence officials.

The outcome was not groundbreaking but it did reaffirm that the Thailand-US alliance is still relevant after several years of inertia and instability. To maintain one of the oldest military alliances in the world is not easy as there is historical baggage that both sides have to confront and come to terms with.