President Trump, who has sought to improve US trade ties with a variety of countries since taking office in January, put Thailand in the spotlight when he sat down with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in the Oval Office.
“Our relationship on trade is becoming more important and it’s a great country to trade with,” President Trump told the Thai official before reporters. “I think we’re going to try to sell a little bit more to you, if that’s possible.”
The US Trade Representative’s office reported that the US trade deficit with Thailand was $18.9 billion last year, the 11th largest faced by the United States.
The meeting was a sign of improved ties between the United States and Thailand after the relationship cooled when the Thai military took power in a 2014 coup.
Human rights groups had strongly opposed the meeting, seeing it as a reward for an authoritarian leader who has cracked down on opposition and rolled back democratic freedoms.
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai hailed the meeting between the leaders as “special”.
“It shows special attention for the Thai prime minister,” Don told official Thai media traveling with the delegation.
Don used the visit as an opportunity to praise his government’s achievements. “If we weren’t good, they probably wouldn’t invite us,” he said. The junta has promised to hold a general election in 2018 but has yet to set a firm date.
Prayuth raised the issue again on Monday.
“I told [Trump] … next year we will announce a general election date,” Prime Minister Prayuth told reporters.
The Obama administration was deeply critical of the Thai junta and refused to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Prayuth to the White House.
Human Rights Watch in a statement given to Reuters in Bangkok called on members of the U.S. Congress to demand that the Trump administration pressure Thailand to restore democracy and called on the Pentagon to “cool their engagement” with Thai leaders.