CHIANG MAI, Thailand – January 23, 2026 — The United States officially dedicated its new U.S. Consulate General building in Chiang Mai, reaffirming America’s commitment to protecting and advancing U.S. interests, and its enduring commitment to northern Thailand. 

Led by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas and U.S. Ambassador Sean K. O’Neill, the ceremony highlighted the new consulate building’s role as a secure, modern hub for serving over 21,000 American citizens across northern Thailand and working with our Thai partners to make our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous. 

“This year we celebrate America’s 250th birthday and it is an honor to start the year by joining Deputy Secretary Rigas to dedicate this beautiful new building,” said Ambassador O’Neill. “America has had a consulate in Chiang Mai for over 75 years, and this new building is a visible and lasting symbol of the friendship between America and Thailand. We have a proud past and a bright future, and the best is yet to come!”  

The new consulate building features state-of-the-art facilities that streamline services for Americans and support U.S. diplomatic engagement across the 15 provinces of northern Thailand. The new consulate building will help us continue to strengthen cooperation with our Thai partners to protect our citizens by countering transnational crime, and increase prosperity by fostering economic growth in both nations.

Located east of Chiang Mai’s historic Old City, the complex is a model of architectural diplomacy, blending modern American innovation with the rich heritage of northern Thailand. The design team utilized three primary Lanna architectural concepts to root the compound in its local context:

• Lanna: The buildings utilize an elevated ground plane to separate public spaces and provide natural ventilation.
• Chaan: Inspired by traditional northern Thai homes that are arranged as a series of separate cabins around the chaan—a central terrace—the new consulate building adapts this by creating a series of smaller buildings around a shared central space. 
• Kuti: The facility’s needs are broken down into four smaller, linked volumes, an adaptation of the kuti concept found in traditional temple compounds.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai opened in 1950 and is the oldest foreign consular post in northern Thailand. After 75 years operating out of a group of historic homes near the Ping River, the consulate has now moved into dedicated modern office space. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary and moves into its third century of partnership with Thailand, the new U.S. Consulate General building ensures that the “perpetual peace” established in the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce between America and Thailand will continue to flourish for generations to come. 

For more information about the new U.S. Consulate General building in Chiang Mai, please see the U.S. Mission website: https://th.usembassy.gov/new-consulate-general-building/

To download images from the dedication ceremony, please click here.

On behalf of the U.S. Government and the American people, I extend our warmest wishes to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother on the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty’s 93rd birthday. We wish Her Majesty the best of health and happiness.

Her Majesty has been a constant friend to the United States and has deepened the enduring bond of friendship between our two great nations. Her Majesty has been admired around the world as a tireless champion of Thai cultural heritage, and has been instrumental in promoting the craftsmanship, skills and local knowledge of traditional artisans. Through the SUPPORT Foundation, as well as many other initiatives and royal patronages, Her Majesty has improved the lives of countless Thai people throughout the Kingdom. Her Majesty’s commitment to protecting Thailand’s rich biodiversity over many decades enabled these natural resources to be enjoyed today by the Thai people and countless visitors from around the world.

On this joyous occasion, we would like to join the Thai people in wishing Her Majesty Happy Birthday and all Thai mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.

On the joyous occasion of the 73rd birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, the United States Mission to the Kingdom of Thailand offers our most heartfelt congratulations.

For two centuries the United States and Thailand have stood together as friends, partners and allies, working to promote prosperity, freedom, and security for all our people. We look forward to further strengthening the enduring bond between our two great nations in the years to come.

We wish His Majesty, the Royal Family, and the Thai people good health and happiness.

BANGKOK, Thailand – June 30, 2025 – The U.S. Embassy Bangkok, in partnership with the MIT ASEAN Initiative and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), today hosted the inaugural “Disaster Management Conference: Technology, Innovation, and Research for Effective Disaster Response and Prevention” at One Bangkok Forum. This half-day event aimed to foster open dialogue on disaster management policy, highlight American expertise in disaster management research and practice, and create opportunities for American private sector companies with various disaster management solutions to engage with policymakers, academics, non-governmental organizations, and thought leaders in Thailand and ASEAN countries.

The conference featured opening remarks from U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec, Dr. Sorapop Kiatpongsan, Director of the MIT ASEAN Initiative, and Mr. Chatit Huayhongtong, President of AmCham and Chevron Thailand.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Godec highlighted the long history of U.S. assistance to Thailand during times of need. He noted the conference’s timeliness following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that affected Thailand on March 28, causing damage in 18 provinces. Following the incident, the Ambassador noted the immediate deployment of U.S. support, including the U.S. military’s state-of-the-art remote sensing device to help Thai-led search and rescue teams at the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building at Chatuchak. This device assisted the teams by detecting 70 potential spots for victims deep within the SAO building rubble, a “tangible difference this new technology was making on the ground.” Ambassador Godec stressed that America is leading in innovation and technology in disaster management, with scientists unlocking AI’s potential for predictive modeling, designing technology to increase community resilience, and creating solutions for disaster mitigation. He also highlighted the crucial role of preparedness, achieved through platforms like the annual Cobra Gold Exercises. This exercise brings together 30 nations for joint training, which for the last twenty years specifically addressed responding to disasters and life-threatening crises through training such as Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, training that participants have implemented to save countless lives. He concluded by quoting Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” underscoring the collective effort to build a “stronger, safer and more prosperous future” for all.

The conference’s primary goal was to promote cutting-edge U.S. technology, innovation, and research to enhance disaster management capabilities. It aimed to expand understanding of contemporary technology and trends in disaster management, to include artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive modeling, remote sensing and satellite monitoring, robotics and augmented reality, crisis mapping, and blockchain for aid distribution.

The conference agenda included a range of insightful presentations and interactive discussions. Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, presented a “Disaster Management Showcase” on the “Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.” The conference also featured two distinguished keynote speakers from MIT:

• The “Risk Reduction through Technology and Design” talk by Prof. Miho Mazereeuw, Director of MIT Climate Mission and Director of Urban Risk Lab, showcased how communities can leverage design and technology to increase resilience against climate risks like flooding, cyclones, heat stress, and seismic disasters. Prof. Mazereeuw leads the Urban Risk Lab which engages in action research through fieldwork and community workshops to embed preparedness in a rapidly urbanizing world. Her forthcoming book, “Design Before Disaster: Japan’s Culture of Preparedness,” is expected in late 2025.
• Dr. Sai Ravela, Principal Research Scientist at MIT’s Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), addressed in his keynote, “Emerging MIT Tech Frontiers of Risk-based Resilience to Extremes in a Changing Climate”, the innovative work in simulation and algorithms for mitigating risks from natural and climate disasters, including AI-driven exposure and vulnerability mapping. Dr. Ravela directs the Earth Signals and Systems Group and his research centers on computational sustainability and climate risk, with a particular emphasis on extreme events. He is recognized for his contributions to coastal risk quantification and advances a new Co-Active Systems Theory to couple models, data, and human insight for environmental stewardship.The conference concluded with two industry panel discussions, featuring representatives from One Bangkok, Honeywell, SCG, McKinsey & Co. and Western Digital.

About MIT ASEAN Initiative

The MIT ASEAN Initiative played a crucial role in co-hosting this inaugural conference. Officially opened on October 30, 2024, the initiative serves as a bridge for action learning, convening activities, and faculty engagement from across MIT to drive economic and social impact throughout the ASEAN region. The idea for this disaster management conference specifically arose after a major earthquake hit Thailand and Myanmar on March 28, 2025, making disaster management a policy priority for Thailand. This partnership brought MIT subject experts together with the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Bangkok local government, and American companies in Thailand to address this critical need.

Contact: U.S. Embassy Bangkok Press Office Email: pressbkk@state.gov

Download Press Materials:
Press release, photos, the Ambassador’s speech and other press materials from the conference are available here.

Monday, January 23, 2023

Vice Minister, Chairman and CEO of the Nation Group, Managing Editor of the Nation Group, ladies and gentlemen, Sawasdee Khrap!

It is a great honor to be here today.  So I want to say thank you for the very kind invitation.  I especially want to thank Krungthep Turakit for convening this seminar and for facilitating this exchange of views.  So again, and on behalf of the U.S. Embassy and myself, thank you.

U.S. Priorities – Building Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

One truth is clear:  The United States is committed to the Indo-Pacific region, and to our strong alliance with Thailand.  For nearly two centuries, the Thai-U.S. partnership has been a force for good and a pillar of Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity.  On March 23, 1833, Chao Phraya Phra Khlang and U.S. Minister Edmund Roberts signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Siam and the United States, beginning what is now 190 years of growing partnership between our countries.  Today I will outline the U.S. vision for the region and our hopes for the future of the Thailand-U.S. partnership.

Responding to Global Opportunities and Challenges

Right now, we have extraordinary opportunities to make the lives of people better across the globe.  Opportunities to create and share wealth, improve access to education and health care, enhance security, and ensure people can make their own decisions about how they are governed.  Of course, along with these opportunities, we face challenges, including the fight against COVID-19 and preparing for future global health emergencies, recovering from economic shocks, taking on the threat of climate change, and creating an energy future that’s cleaner, more secure, and more affordable.  No country can realize these opportunities or meet these challenges alone.  We can only do so together, and our shared set of rules and institutions provides the framework for progress.

The United States will work with our partners, friends, and allies to tackle shared challenges and seize common opportunities.

When countries reject the international rules, however, we must stand together.  Hence, the international community has stood squarely with Ukraine against President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war. And we work with our partners to promote justice and accountability in Burma and to end the military regime’s brutal campaign of violence against the people of that country.  Our future depends on our willingness to work together and to respect international norms and agreements.  Respect for international rules provides people and businesses with the stability and predictability to invest and grow.

As I know, it is also on the minds of many here, I would also like to mention our complex and consequential relationship with the PRC, which includes aspects of cooperation as well as competition.  Secretary Blinken will soon travel to China to follow up on President Biden and President Xi’s open, candid conversation in November.  We seek to keep the lines of communication open and to cooperate where we can, and to make every effort to prevent competition from veering into conflict.  Let me reassure you, we are committed to managing this important relationship responsibly.

Our Vision for the Region: U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy

For over 75 years, the United States and Thailand have supported an Indo-Pacific vision where rules are developed transparently and applied fairly; where countries are free to make their own sovereign decisions; where goods, ideas, and people flow freely across land, sky, cyberspace, the open seas, and good governance is responsive to the people.  This system has improved the quality of life for millions of people in this region and across the globe.  Every country in the world and every person in this room has benefitted from it.

One new U.S. regional initiative is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework or IPEF.  We are pleased that Thailand was a founding member of IPEF when it was launched in May 2022.  We need new solutions to address 21st Century challenges – from trade, to supply chains, to energy, and the environment – and IPEF will help us find them.  IPEF will unlock enormous economic value for this region, especially for small businesses.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) is another vital initiative to address regional challenges and that helps provide an institutional framework for progress.  I commend Thailand for successfully hosting APEC in 2022 and its effort to promote sustainable economic growth via the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular Green Economy model.  In 2023, the United States will host APEC and we will strive to build on Thailand’s great work and the overarching goal of promoting free, fair, and open trade and investment, and advancing inclusive and sustainable growth.

U.S.-Thailand Relations – A Model for Regional Partnership

Thailand is central to the future of this region and, as I said earlier, our relations today are strong.  Our ties form a tapestry that each of us is weaving, and its threads are government to government, business to business, university to university, and people to people.

Our economic partnership is an essential strand of our tapestry.  The United States is Thailand’s largest export market.  That means our economies are inextricably linked and our trade relationship is robust.  And growing.  In fact, our bilateral trade has jumped 50 percent over the past two years.  The United States is a major investor in the Thai economy, with U.S. firms operating across diverse sectors including automobiles, healthcare and high tech/digital.  U.S. firms’ operations in Thailand are estimated to directly employ nearly 200,000 Thai citizens and support countless other jobs.

The importance of our economic ties can be seen in the engagement we have had over the last year and that we have on the horizon.  In March, Bangkok will host Trade Winds, the largest U.S. government-led trade mission and business development forum.  The forum will feature Thailand as its regional hub and include optional spin-off visits to five other ASEAN countries.  Trade Winds will host well over 100 top executives from U.S. companies and feature meetings with officials, demonstrating the American private sector’s enthusiasm for investing in Thailand.  Trade Winds is yet another example of the U.S. commitment to Thailand and our desire to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the region.

The United States and Thailand are also collaborating on digital economic development to promote innovation, including in developing secure and stable digital infrastructure, enhancing the digital skills of our workforces, and developing smart cities and policies promoting digital trade.  Key U.S high tech firms including Seagate, Amazon, Tesla, Ford, Netflix, Google and others are all expanding their operations in Thailand to the tune of billions of dollars in near term investment.  These major private industry tech giants are investing in the future of the Thai-U.S. partnership and looking to Thailand as a regional hub.

The United States and Thailand also work closely on the central challenge of our time: climate change.  We applaud Thailand’s ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, and the United States is supporting Thailand’s efforts to achieve this goal through a combination of technical assistance, capacity building, and commercial engagement and collaboration.

In health care, for over 60 years Thailand and the United States have been partners.  As a result of our shared efforts, the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the globe are better.  The close nature of this partnership – for example, our Centers for Disease Control has more than 100 staff co-located in Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health – has saved the lives of countless children and ensured parents can work and take care of their families.  During the height of the global pandemic, our vaccine and other donations – and technical cooperation –ensured that safe and effective mRNA covid vaccines got into the arms in Bangkok and across Thailand, that residents of Khlong Toei had access to critical medical supplies, and public hospitals in Kanchanaburi had lab equipment.

Future of U.S.-Thai Relations and Opportunities for Partnership

As you can see, Thailand and the United States have been hard at work building a strong and diverse relationship over the past 190 years.  This year, as we celebrate those 190 years, we should look for ways to do even more together, to weave an ever more beautiful tapestry.  Together, in fact, I believe we should launch a decade of work to take our relations to a new level.  We should seek new ways to increase trade and investment, in both directions, and build prosperity for everyone.  We can strengthen engagement in the digital world and in the creative industries.  There are opportunities for us to cooperate to expand use of clean energy and put satellites in space.  We should increase the number of scholarships for Thais to study in the United States, and for Americans to study here.  We can work to accelerate joint scientific and technical research, whether by universities or companies.  What we can do is only limited by our imagination.

In conclusion, the United States is committed to enhancing peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and to our partnership with Thailand.  We are actively working with our partners, friends, and allies to tackle shared challenges, seize common opportunities, and to support the international system that has improved life for people across the world.  Together, we can build a better future for Thais, Americans, and for people everywhere.

Rao ja daun naa pai duay gun!

Khop khun khrap.

On behalf of the United States, I congratulate Thai authorities and their international partners on the inspirational rescue of the 12 brave young men and their coach trapped since June 23^rd by rapidly rising water deep in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai Province.  Thais everywhere, their hearts filled with hope and joined by multitudes around the world, willed this singular success.  The U.S. Government and U.S. private sector proudly supported the Thai-led multinational operation.  Service members from the Indo-Pacific Command, officers and staff of the U.S. Mission to Thailand, and representatives of U.S. companies joined hands with their Thai and international partners to help achieve this terrific outcome. We will always remember the heroism and sacrifice of former Navy Seal Saman Kuman.