PM congratulates President-elect Trump; confident Thai-US ties will grow

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told Thailand’s diplomatic corps last week that the Kingdom will continue to cooperate with the United States and the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump, and that the country must be prepared to adjust to changing situations around the world in order to ensure national security and prosperity.

“On behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to you on being elected the 45th President of the United States and to Governor Mike Pence for being elected the next Vice President of the United States.  Your historic victory and new direction are reflective of how the American people have placed their confidence in you to lead the country forward. I offer you my best wishes and support in this regard,” Prime Minister Prayut told President-elect Trump in an official message.

“I am very confident that the relationship between Thailand and the United States will be strengthened under your leadership. I look forward to working closely with you and Vice President-elect Pence to reinvigorate the mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries and peoples, and advance the strategic partnership between ASEAN and the United States,” the Prime Minister added.

Thailand is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia and the two countries have been working together on a wide range of areas of common interest for the two countries as well as for the Asia-Pacific region and the international community as a whole.

In response to the election results, Prime Minister Prayut told a meeting of over 100 officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week that they would have to adjust to the new global situation.

“The world keeps changing everyday. The U.S. presidential election will bring about change. We have to be prepared for change in areas of security, economic and social fields. If we are well-prepared, we will be able to talk to any country on any and every matter,” the Prime Minister said.

The meeting was attended by ambassadors, consuls-general and trade representatives to foreign countries. In total, the attendees represent the Kingdom in 97 cities on six continents.

Prime Minister Prayut said that he wants these meetings to take place in Bangkok twice a year to strengthen coordination in Thailand’s foreign policy and affairs, and for better feedback and knowledge sharing among policy makers and diplomats.