Peter Haymond, a career diplomat with a long personal relationship with Thailand, has returned to Bangkok as the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy.
His mission is to strengthen bilateral ties strained by growing criticism that Washington has been interfering in Thai domestic politics. Repeated calls by the United States and European Union for the ruling junta to lift restrictions on civil liberties and a quick return to democratically elected civilian government have drawn flak from supporters of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
He replaces W Patrick Murphy, who was US charge d'affaires during the lengthy wait for the US Senate to confirm the current ambassador, Glyn T Davies. Mr Murphy was the first official US voice to criticise the coup and removal of civil rights and to raise hackles in some quarters in Thailand against alleged US "interference" in Thai politics.
Mr Haymond, previously the director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs at the State Department, was introduced to about 100 Thais and expatriates at a reception on Tuesday hosted by Ambassador Davies at his residence near the embassy on Wireless Road. "I would like to tell my Thai friends that I will try my best to strengthen our great mutual relationship that has lasted for nearly 200 years," Mr Haymond said in fluent Thai as his Thai wife, Dusadee watched on.
This is Mr Haymond's fifth time living in the kingdom, after having resided in Thailand for periods since his youth prior to his first embassy appointment here. He first served at the embassy in Bangkok between 1994-96 as consul-general.
A PhD holder in economics from Tufts University, Mr Haymond has also served as consul-general at the US consulate in Chengdu, China (2011-2014), and the US embassies in China (2003-05), Laos (2008-2011, 1997-2000) and South Korea (1992-94). He speaks Thai, Lao, Mandarin and "some French".
A senior Asian diplomat said Mr Haymond's knowledge of Thailand could help improve the US's tainted image among some Thais. "It is common for the US government to call for democracy in military-ruled countries, but it is unfortunate the message is not well-received here," the diplomat said.