As far as US policy toward Southeast Asia is concerned, President Donald Trump's ability to change direction was highly visible during Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's visit to Washington last week. After nine months in power, Mr Trump has effectively normalised US ties with Thailand after three years of them being off the radar. But it needed hard work and a well-timed and executed plan to accomplish.
Thai Ambassador to the US Pisan Manawapat relied on contacts with the Office of the National Security Council and the White House to fix last week's visit. The original schedule for the prime minister to meet Mr Trump was on July 18, two-and-a-half months ago.
Mr Pisan also received confirmation of a lunch to be hosted by Mr Trump at the White House on that day. However, the plan was postponed to give the Thai side more time to prepare for the crucial trip, following the ambassador's suggestion. Gen Prayut agreed, as he was in no rush and wanted to make sure the trip was a productive one.
Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.
From August to September, there were a series of high-level visits between the two countries to lay further groundwork for the trip. US State Secretary Rex Tillerson paid a visit here, followed by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at the end of last month. From the Thai side, Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn and National Security Council chief Thawip Netniyom visited Washington. Numerous private sector meetings were held to work out investment plans in the US.
The postponement allowed Thailand to better prepare its position, especially on trade issues. For security matters, both sides understood well what was needed to strengthen the much-neglected alliance which is now 63 years old.
During his visit, Gen Prayut discussed bilateral matters and lunched with Mr Trump. He also met Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Patrick Leahy, president pro tempore of the US Senate. On the sidelines, Gen Prayut's wife, Mrs Naraporn, chatted with First Lady Melania and daughter Ivanka. The prime minister has invited Ivanka to visit Thailand.
The visit has re-energised the 184-year-old friendship. However, as it turned out, the two countries were comfortable enough to recognise next year as the 200th anniversary of their first diplomatic contact, made under President James Monroe in 1818.
On paper, a closer look at the language and substance of the 1,269-word joint statement of Oct 2, clearly points to a more mature relationship based on reciprocity. Truth be told, the statement does not commit Thailand to reduce its trade deficit or compromise its security in any way.
Further negotiations between Thailand and the Office of US Trade Representative on key trade issues and commodities will start soon. On transnational security challenges, Thailand's position on the South China Sea and North Korean nuclear crisis are impartial and succinct. The two leaders called for full respect for all legal and diplomatic processes as well as for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. They also expressed grave concern over Pyongyang's actions and urged all relevant parties to implement all UN resolutions on the matter.
The carefully crafted document demonstrates Thailand's diplomatic finesse in engaging the superpower. Even at the height of the nuclear crisis, Bangkok continued to call for further dialogue and calm while sticking to UN-sponsored sanctions and declined a US request to downgrade diplomatic ties with North Korea. In comparison, Kuala Lumpur was willing to go beyond the UN resolutions on North Korean sanctions in its joint statement with the US last month.
Mr Trump's warm hospitality for Gen Prayut is based on his perception of the unique roles played by Thailand as military ally, a major Southeast Asian trading partner and a leading Asean game-changer. Since World War II, Thailand has been a reliable strategic security partner of the US. Indeed, the joint statement said that Thailand, during the 70-year reign of the late King Bhumibol who died last year, was a "true friend" of the US.
After the end of Vietnam War and later the fall of the Berlin Wall, strategic relations between Thailand and the US began to wane mainly due to a lack of common enemies. Gradually over the decades, domestic conditions and political developments gradually came to dominate the Thai-US discourse and Washington began to focus on Thailand's domestic issues and political polarisation. Now, they have to come to terms with these nagging issues. Now trade deficits and security cooperation are pivotal issues they want to zero in on to promote common prosperity, peace and stability in the region.
The Prayut-Trump meeting at the White House last week showed the ability of the US president to change direction when needed. (Pool photo via EPA)
After the May 2014 coup, Washington's decision to draw down ties significantly weakened US power projection as well as operational scope and capacity in the region. Although the annual military exercise, Cobra Gold, continued uninterrupted, other aspects of bilateral cooperation were not fully functional. As a major non-Nato ally since 2003, Thailand has been held hostage by the US perception of the Kingdom's undemocratic political development.
However, the Trump administration has now placed a premium on Thailand's strategic value. Closer Thai-US security cooperation, unhampered by domestic political concerns that previously were an obstacle, will further strengthen the two countries' strategic alliance.
With such close personal rapport, the two leaders will meet again next month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, where they will be seated side-by-side. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is expected to visit the Pentagon soon, and a senior US defence official will in coming days travel to Bangkok to discuss ways to expand military relations and security cooperation.
Although Thailand and the US failed to reach a free-trade agreement in 2006 after two years of negotiations, bilateral trade continues to grow. Thai investors are putting more money in the US and plan more US imports. Last year, Thailand enjoyed a US$18.9 billion trade surplus. They have discussed ways to address the trade imbalance, intellectual property rights, customs and worker's rights.
Finally, Mr Trump values Thailand's leading role in Asean, as one of its five founding members. Its normalised ties with the US have strengthened its profile within Asean. Thailand is an influential moderating force in the group, ensuring a balanced relationship with all of its dialogue partners throughout the past five decades.
Both Thailand and the US hope from now on their alliance will never be on a sliding slope again, and will serve anew as the bedrock for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.