BANGKOK – Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had a phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, her office said on Tuesday, during which they both pledged to support each others’ administrations.
Paetongtarn, who took office in September and is Thailand’s youngest premier, reiterated her country’s readiness to work with the United States, according to a statement, which said Trump had praised her work.
“Anything I can do, you let me know,” Trump said, according to a video of the conversation that accompanied the statement. He said Thailand was a “totally beautiful country”.
Thailand is Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia and home to one of its largest diplomatic presences in the region. The two countries hold joint military exercises annually and take part in multiple exchanges, including in law enforcement.
Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries with auto and electronic factories like Vietnam stand to benefit from potential Trump policies of raising tariffs on Chinese imports.
The commerce minister has said Thailand should seek to export more to the U.S. to replace Chinese products.
Exports are a key driver of the economy and the United States is Thailand’s top export destination, followed by China. REUTERS
