MANILA, The Philippines — Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, reaffirming the longstanding Thai-US alliance and discussing cooperation on security, trade and regional issues.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in areas including defence and security, particularly efforts to combat online scams, as well as economic ties.
Thailand and the US also discussed moving forward with trade negotiations, with both sides expressing support for reaching an agreement as soon as possible.
The two officials exchanged views on regional developments, including the Thailand-Cambodia situation and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
The meeting came as Thailand seeks to deepen economic cooperation with the US while addressing shared security challenges in the region.
On the same day, Sihasak also held talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, where both sides marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, climate change and efforts to tackle online scams.
Thailand also reaffirmed support for the early conclusion of ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the start of talks on a Thailand-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
