But the Anutin administration has shown signs of being somewhat at odds with Washington, following the suspension of the ceasefire agreement.
Last month, the US Trade Representative paused negotiations with Thailand under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, saying discussions would resume “once the Thai side commits to complying with the joint statement”.
It prompted a rebuke from Thailand’s foreign ministry. “Security and safety issues … must be considered separate from trade issues,” said its spokesman Nikorndej Balankura on Nov 15.
Bangkok may have been expecting a more sympathetic Washington, given the long history of Thai-US cooperation, argued Paul Chambers, a visiting fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, in a paper published last month.
Both sides are also navigating the competing influence of major powers, with Cambodia closely aligned to China and Thailand attempting to balance long-standing ties with the US against a deepening economic relationship with Beijing.
Thailand is one of two defence treaty allies of the US in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines.
“Had Cambodia remained close to China rather than seeking to also accommodate Trump, the US president may have been more likely to take Thailand’s side.
“However, Washington has also been irritated by Bangkok’s apparent tilt toward Beijing, as seen in the forced Uyghur deportation and apparent allowing of Chinese ‘tariff-washing’ through Thailand,” Chambers said.
In late February, Thailand deported around 40 Uyghur men, many of whom had spent years in Thai detention, back to China. It prompted backlash from several Western governments, including the US, which had made offers to resettle the men that were ultimately rejected by Bangkok.
It undermined Thailand-US relations at a time when Bangkok needed to navigate and negotiate a tariff deal in Washington, Thitinan wrote in May.
“Tariff-washing” is where Chinese manufacturers facing steep US tariffs shifted production or routing to Thailand to take advantage of Bangkok’s more favourable access to the American market.
The Paetongtarn government vowed to end such practices, but friction has risen in the relationship with Washington, which was keen to increase its economic leverage with Beijing, Chambers said.
Further statements from the then US Ambassador nominee to Thailand, Sean O’Neill “underscored that Washington’s support depended on Thailand aligning with its transactional priorities, not historical bilateral ties”, he said.