[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 485 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 485

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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 
        Communique 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
    Resolved, 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.
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