Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Vientiane, Laos, on the margins of the ASEAN-U.S. Summit and East Asia Summit. Secretary Blinken congratulated Prime Minister Paetongtarn on her selection as prime minister and forming a new cabinet.

Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Thailand alliance and a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation on a range of priorities including counternarcotics cooperation, investment and trade, and adherence to international law in the South China Sea. Secretary Blinken thanked Prime Minister Paetongtarn for Thailand's leadership within ASEAN. He also welcomed Thailand's resolve to address the ongoing conflict in neighboring Burma, as well as its humanitarian support for those displaced by the conflict.