On May 29, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Thai Minister of Defence Adul Boonthamcharoen met for the first time to discuss the strength of the U.S.-Thailand alliance.
Secretary Hegseth and Minister Adul committed to finalize a new Joint Vision Statement to modernize Thailand's defense capabilities and accelerate progress on major priorities by the end of the year. Secretary Hegseth also commended Thailand's continued commitment to peace with Cambodia following the POTUS-brokered Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and December 27 ceasefire agreement.
Building on the U.S. commitment to provide $68 million in Foreign Military Financing to improve Thailand's counter-unmanned aerial systems capabilities and establish a Stryker Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility, both leaders discussed opportunities to expand defense industrial cooperation and accelerate Thailand's modernization goals.