Thai Ambassador Meets Pentagon Officials, Strengthens Academic Ties Across U.S.
Strategic Defense Partnership at Pentagon
On September 18, 2025, Ambassador Suriya met with the Honorable Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy, at the Pentagon headquarters, marking a significant milestone in Thai-U.S. defense relations.
π€ Alliance Reaffirmation
Both sides reaffirmed the long-standing Thai-U.S. alliance, emphasizing decades of mutual cooperation and shared strategic interests.
π‘οΈ Security Partnership
Discussions focused on ways to further enhance and concretize security and defense partnerships between the two nations.
π Indo-Pacific Peace
Joint commitment to promoting peace and prosperity throughout the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region.
Academic Diplomacy: Building Educational Bridges
Ambassador Suriya met with Professor Jeremy Weinstein, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, to explore comprehensive academic collaboration opportunities.
Meeting with Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, focused on expanding academic collaboration with Thai universities.
Special Keynote Invitation
Dean Gallagher invited Ambassador Suriya to serve as Keynote Speaker at the inaugural Fletcher Global Diplomacy Institute program on September 29, 2025 β an invitation the Ambassador graciously accepted.
Ambassador Suriya met with Professor Sunil Kumar, President of Tufts University, highlighting longstanding academic ties between Thailand and the institution.
Ambassador Suriya hosted a special luncheon for Thai students studying in the Boston area, fostering community connections and providing support.
π Supporting Thai Students in America
The Ambassador’s Boston visit demonstrated Thailand’s commitment to supporting its students pursuing higher education in the United States.
“Ambassador Suriya engaged with students about their academic experiences, personal well-being, and life in the U.S., while encouraging them to stay connected with one another and the Thai community.”
π Strengthening Thai-U.S. Diplomatic Ties
Defense Cooperation
The Pentagon meeting reinforces Thailand’s position as a key U.S. ally in Southeast Asia, with both nations committed to maintaining regional stability and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Educational Diplomacy
Academic partnerships serve as cultural bridges, fostering people-to-people connections and knowledge exchange that strengthen long-term bilateral relationships.
Student Support
Direct engagement with Thai students demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to its citizens abroad and ensures they remain connected to their homeland while pursuing international education.
Future Collaboration
These meetings lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in policy research, faculty exchanges, leadership development, and sustainable development initiatives.
The series of meetings represents Thailand’s multifaceted approach to diplomacy, combining traditional security partnerships with educational and cultural exchanges to build stronger, more comprehensive bilateral relationships with the United States.
