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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner
of the United States. These ties endure, but more than a
decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two
military coups in 2006 and 2014, have complicated U.S.-
Thai relations. The Thai government's efforts to manipulate
political processes and suppress critics has raised questions
about Thailand's prospects for returning to full democratic
governance including the peaceful transfer of power and
protection for civil liberties, and eventually recognizing
civilian authority over the military. After holding elections
in early 2019 that many regarded as flawed, Thailand has
indicated it wants to reset its relationship with the United
States after five years of coup-triggered constraints.
As one of Southeast Asia's most developed nations and a
long-time U.S. partner on a range of issues, Thailand has
the potential to support U.S. initiatives, such as broadening
regional defense cooperation. Thailand is the 2019 chair of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and
is to convene and lead the region's key multilateral forums
this year. However, U.S. policymakers face challenges in
rekindling the bilateral relationship with Thailand, which
was frustrated by U.S. criticism of the coup, while also
encouraging it to fully return to democratic norms.
March 2019 Elections
Thailand conducted nationwide elections in March 2019-
its first since 201 1-and in June seated a new government
led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army who led the
2014 coup. The polls were conducted under new rules
drafted by the junta that provided structural advantages for
military-backed parties, raising questions about the new
government's popular legitimacy. Voting overall ran
smoothly, but the Election Commission of Thailand was
widely criticized for releasing inconsistent and delayed
results, raising skepticism about the credibility of the
tallying process. Official results showed that the main
opposition party had won the highest number of elected
seats. Prayuth's party, however, was able to form a
coalition government with the full support of the military-
appointed Senate.
On July 19, 2019, the U.S. State Department notified
Congress of its certification that a democratically elected
government had taken office in Thailand. (Under the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [P.L. 87-195; 22 U.S.C.
2151 et seq.], certain categories of military assistance may
not be used to finance directly any assistance to any
country whose duly elected head of government is deposed
by military coup or decree.) With this certification, the
United States can resume the provision of military
assistance that was suspended after the 2014 coup, which
includes Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and International
Military Education Training (IMET).
Updated September 11, 2019
Background on Thailand's Political Landscape
As demonstrated in the close election outcome, Thailand
remains deeply politically divided, with the potential for
more conflicts ahead. Thailand's political turmoil has
involved a broad clash between the nation's political
establishment (a mix of the military, royalists who are
staunch supporters of the monarchy, senior bureaucrats, and
many urban and middle class citizens) and democracy
activists and backers of former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup and now
resides overseas. Thaksin was popular, particularly with the
rural poor, because of his populist policies, challenges to
the traditional elites, and political empowerment of
traditionally marginalized communities.
Between 2001 and 2011, Thaksin and his supporters won
six consecutive national elections, but their leaders were
repeatedly removed from office, by either military or
judicial coup. During this period of instability, Thailand
saw numerous large-scale demonstrations, several of which
resulted in violent confrontations between factions, or with
the military and police. In 2010, clashes between the
military and pro-Thaksin demonstrators over several weeks
killed 80 civilians in Bangkok.
Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Size: Slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Population: 68.6 million (uly 2018 est.)
Infant Mortality: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
Fertility Rate: 1.52 children born/woman (U.S.= 1.72)
GDP (official exchange rate): $455.4 billion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita (PPP): $17,900 (2017 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2018
The 2014 coup was Thailand's 12th successful coup since
1932. The junta drafted a new constitution that created a
military-appointed Senate and limited the power of political
parties.
The monarchy is one of Thailand's most powerful political
institutions. The former king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed
away in 2016, ending a 70-year reign that had made him the
world's longest serving monarch. The palace has few
formal authorities, but Bhumibol enjoyed tremendous
popular support and, in turn, political influence. After his
accession to the throne, Bhumiphol's son Maha
Vajiralongkorn, now officially known as King Rama X, has
been more politically active than his father was in his last
years, opposing some parts of the 2016 Constitution and
taking control of the bureau managing the throne's vast
fortune in July 2017.
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