Editing Thailand (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{main|Foreign relations of Thailand}}
[[File:Rama IX of Thailand and Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] in a meeting with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]], 18 November 2012]]
Siam's and Thailand's way of conducting foreign relations has long been described as "bamboo bending with the wind", of policies that are "always solidly rooted, but flexible enough to bend whichever way the wind blows in order to survive",<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chivvis |first1=Christopher S. |last2=Marciel |first2=Scot |last3=Geaghan‑Breiner |first3=Beatrix |date=26 October 2023 |title=Thailand in the Emerging World Order |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/10/thailand-in-the-emerging-world-order?lang=en |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace}}</ref> or adaptable and pragmatic. In order to secure independence, it sought to pit one great power against the others so that it would be dominated by none.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2021 |title=The bamboo breaks: Thailand's diplomatic challenge|work=The Strategist |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-bamboo-breaks-thailands-diplomatic-challenge/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526192532/https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-bamboo-breaks-thailands-diplomatic-challenge/ |archive-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>

During the [[Cold War]], Thailand sought to prevent the spread of communism so it joined the United States, including participating in [[SEATO]] alliance, sending expeditions to Korea and Vietnam, and offering the US to use its base. Thailand is one of the five founding members of [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN), initially to safeguard against communism. The end of [[Vietnam War]] was a turning point in Thai foreign policy and afterwards it sought to improve relations with Communist China and its now-Communist neighbours. Thailand remains an active member of ASEAN and seek to project its influence in it. Thailand has developed increasingly close ties with other members, with progressing regional co-operation in economic, trade, banking, political, and cultural matters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rakson |first=Katsamaporn |date=July–December 2018 |title=Investigating Thailand's self-perception in the regional context towards ASEAN |url=https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/Veridian-E-Journal/article/download/166438/141875/625674 |journal=Veridian E-Journal, Silpakorn University |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=568–578 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230236/https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/Veridian-E-Journal/article/download/166438/141875/625674 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2000s, Thailand had taken an active role on the international stage and participated fully in international and regional organisations. It is a [[major non-NATO ally]] and Priority Watch List [[Special 301 Report]] of the United States. When [[East Timor]] gained independence from Indonesia, Thailand contributed troops to the international peacekeeping effort.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Strategic Partnership Between Australia and Thailand: A Case Study of East Timor |url=https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-politics-economics-and-law/volume-2-issue-1/article-4/ |access-date=2024-01-01 |journal=IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics & Law |year=2015|doi=10.22492/ijpel.2.1.04 |last1=Chieocharnpraphan |first1=Thosaphon |volume=2 |doi-access=free |archive-date=1 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101161923/https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-politics-economics-and-law/volume-2-issue-1/article-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of its effort to increase international ties, Thailand had reached out to such regional organisations as the [[Organization of American States]] (OAS)<ref>{{Cite web |last=OAS |date=2009-08-01 |title=OAS – Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development |url=https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=e-215/03 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=OAS – Organization of American States|archive-date=1 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101162926/https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=e-215/03 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thailand attends 2023 OSCE Asian Conference with aim to further promote Asia-Europe cooperation |url=https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/osce170723-2?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c306000683e |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ|archive-date=1 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101161423/https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/osce170723-2?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c306000683e |url-status=live }}</ref>

During [[Thaksin Shinawatra]]'s premiership, negotiations for several [[free trade agreement]]s with China, Australia, Bahrain, India, and the US were initiated. Thaksin sought to position Thailand as a regional leader, initiating various development projects in poorer neighbouring countries. More controversially, he established close, friendly ties with the Burmese dictatorship.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090103061415/http://www.burmait.net/ict-news/2007/aug07/thaksin-to-face-charges-over-burma-telecom-deal/ 'Thaksin to face charges over Burma telecom deal]. ICT News, 2 August 2007</ref> Thailand joined the US-led [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], sending a [[Thai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq|humanitarian contingent]] until September 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2003 |title=Thai troops join Iraq force – Sep. 4, 2003 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/09/04/sprj.irq.thai.troops/index.html |access-date=20 December 2021 |publisher=CNN|archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328150809/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/09/04/sprj.irq.thai.troops/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Thailand also had contributed troops to reconstruction efforts in [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ภาพเก่าเล่าตำนาน : ทหารช่างไทย...ไปทำอะไร...ในอัฟกานิสถาน โดย พลเอก นิพัทธ์ ทองเล็ก |url=https://www.matichon.co.th/article/news_2822402 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Matichon Online |date=12 July 2021 |language=th |archive-date=20 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120062820/https://www.matichon.co.th/article/news_2822402 |url-status=live |author1=Matichon }}</ref>

In April 2009, the [[Cambodian–Thai border dispute]] brought troops on territory immediately adjacent to the 900-year-old ruins of Cambodia's [[Preah Vihear Temple|Preah Vihear]] Hindu temple near the border.<ref>The Telegraph, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/5101029/Troops-from-Thailand-and-Cambodia-fight-on-border.html Troops from Thailand and Cambodia fight on border] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523080330/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/5101029/Troops-from-Thailand-and-Cambodia-fight-on-border.html |date=23 May 2010 }}, 3 April 2009</ref><ref>Bloomberg, [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a2G.h3Ms.a3s&refer=asia Thai, Cambodian Border Fighting Stops, Thailand Says] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014072312/http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080 |date=14 October 2007 }}</ref>

After the 2014 coup, Thailand leaned more towards China.<ref>Prashanth Parameswaran. (2014). [https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/thailand-turns-to-china/ Thailand Turns to China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427033345/https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/thailand-turns-to-china/ |date=27 April 2022 }}. ''The Diplomat''. Retrieved 3 January 2018.</ref> Growing Chinese influence and capital inflow caused some members of parliament to raise the concern about "economic colony" under China after many concessions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2020 |title=MPs warned of an economic colony as opposition zeroed in on Thailand's impaired relationship with China |work=Thai Examiner |url=https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/02/28/thailand-relationship-china-thai-government-opposition-critiscism/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019080345/https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/02/28/thailand-relationship-china-thai-government-opposition-critiscism/ |archive-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>

During the [[Gaza war|Israel-Gaza war]] in 2023, at first Thailand's prime minister stated that his government strongly condemns the attack against Israel and extends its deepest condolences to the government and the people of Israel<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1710624065076314165 |user=Thavisin |title=In light of today's tragic incident...}}</ref> but the government later changed its position and announced that Thailand adopted a neutral stance in this conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Israel-Palestine war: Thailand adopts neutral stance |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40031729 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=nationthailand|archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016021118/https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40031729 |url-status=live }}</ref> 28 Thai nationals were killed in this conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |title=คนไทยในอิสราเอลตายเพิ่ม 4 รวมเป็น 28 คน เร่งอพยพกลับไทย |url=https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/332821 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=Thai PBS |language=th |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016005435/https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/332821 |url-status=live }}</ref>