[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5761-S5762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  Mr. COTTON (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Sullivan, and Ms. 
Duckworth) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 485

       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, 
     D.C., 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, D.C., 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

[[Page S5762]]

     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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