On October 25th, 2013, the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand commemorated 180 years of their close ties. In 1832, the United States and Thailand established a bilateral relationship, America’s first in Asia. The following year, both countries signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which formally declared their diplomatic relations. In order to mark the occasion of the 180th anniversary, Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, offered remarks at a reception celebrating the partnership in Washington, D.C. on October 25th, 2013.
In his remarks, Assistant Secretary Russel touched on important issues that the U.S. and Thailand address together such as strengthening business relations, maintaining security cooperation, assisting refugees and displaced persons, and fighting human trafficking, noting,
“Today we are expanding a mature partnership in which our two countries cooperate on a wide range of issues, benefitting not only the people of our two countries but also, increasingly, the peoples of Southeast Asia and further afield, as Thailand and the United States assist others with development and other challenges they face...Our alliance has truly stood the test of time. It’s not often that one can witness the 180th anniversary of any relationship. Onward to 200!”